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The National Association of Conservation Districts determines the annual stewardship theme. This year's theme is "Soil to Spoon." It is important to understand where the food comes from that you eat each day. You see a wide variety of products in your local grocery store. But where does it all come from? What is the connection to the soil you walk on each day?
The annual conservation poster contest provides kindergarteners through twelfth graders with an opportunity to share their thoughts about water and related natural resource issues. Posters are evaluated on the following criteria: conservation message, originality, visual effectiveness, and universal appeal. At the local level, students of the winning posters are given prizes, ribbons, and their posters are displayed at the Lake County Fair.
Click here to view winning posters.
As a poster wins first place in a contest, it proceeds to the next level contest as listed below:
- Local contest
- Area contest
- State contest
- National contest
Alex Sainz and Supervisor Peggy Belflower.
TOPIC: Should food crops be used for fuel?
Lake Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors the annual contest, which is designed to develop
leadership and stimulate interest in conserving natural resources. Nine contestants gave speeches
on Nov. 17th, that were judged on content, composition, delivery and time criteria.
Alex Sainz, a sixth grade student at Lake Montessori and Learning Institute, won first place. By winning at the local level, Sainz is eligible to compete at the Area 3 Association of Florida Conservation Districts’ contest in May 2012.
Second and third place winners for the speech contest include:
- Emily Waddington - Second place
- Emmie Palmer - Third place
The Association of Florida Conservation Districts determines the annual topic. The first place winner proceeds to the Area contest, and if first place, will advance to the State contest.
The eighth annual Lake Regional Envirothon was
held on Feb. 24, 2011 with 15
teams from Lake County. Middle and High School
students gathered at the Hickory Point Recreational
Facility in Tavares to compete in a natural resources
education event, which includes a written exam and
hands-on investigations.
The five-member teams are led by an advisor in
studying prepared resource materials on aquatics,
forestry, wildlife, soils and a selected current environmental
issue, which for 2011 was "Salt and Fresh Water Estuaries."
High School Division
1st Place: "Down Pillows” - Advisor Joan Wukotich, Leesburg High School
2nd Place: "Killer Tomatoes" - Advisor Betsy Farner, Tavares High School
3rd Place: "Prowling Panthers" - Advisor Kendra Bush-St. Louis, Eustis High School
Middle School Division
1st Place: "Squirrel Scouts” - Advisor Tessa Clark, Carver Middle School
2nd Place: "Fun Guys" - Advisor Katrina Palmer, Lake Montessori & Learning Institute
3rd Place: "Gray Gators" - Advisor Casey Ferguson, Gray Middle School
The top scoring team will compete in the Florida Envirothon at John Dickinson State Park on April 30, 2011.
The annual Land Judging competition was held on March 10, 2011, at Lake May Reserve, a Lake County public lands property outside of Eustis. The Lake Soil & Water Conservation District invited middle and high school students in Future Farmers of America to test their knowledge by judging soils from four pits that were selected by Manuel Matos, Soil Scientist with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Participants mark individual scorecards for evaluation of soil characteristics and how they relate to farming, range management, and homesite construction. The skills the teens use at the contest involve principles that can be valuable in career fields like environmental and agricultural management, natural resources conservation, home building, engineering, and construction.
The first place middle and high school teams are eligible to compete in the State Land Judging competition that will be held in Milton, Santa Rosa County on March 25, 2011.
High School Division
1st place - East Ridge High School Blue Team
2nd place - East Ridge High School Gold Team
3rd place - East Ridge High School Silver Team
Middle School Division
1st place - Clermont Middle School Team 1
2nd place - Clermont Middle School Team 2
3rd place - Gray Middle School FFA
High School Individual High Score
1st place - Betsey Sharpless, East Ridge High School Blue Team
2nd place TIE - Savanna Olson and Jorden Oldham, both from East Ridge High School Blue Team
3rd place - Veronica Gonzales, East Ridge High School Silver Team
Middle School Individual High Score
1st place - Drew Mendoza, Clermont Middle School Team 1
2nd place - Maegan Garner, Clermont Middle School Team 1
3rd place TIE - Tyler Duffy Clermont Middle School Team 2 and Chris Brown, Clermont Middle School Team 1
 The Lake Soil & Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Florida Division of
Forestry, will give away over 1,500 bare-root trees, at the Lake County Agricultural Center in Tavares, on Thursday, January 19 beginning at 11 a.m., in the
Horticultural Learning Center in the Discovery Gardens.
Each person is allowed one tree, approximately 6-18 inches, of each available variety:
Dogwood, Southern Magnolia, Red Maple, Sabal Palm, Redbud, Myrtle Leaf Holly and Pine.
Click here for descriptions and care instructions for the trees being given away at the 2012 Annual Tree Giveaway.
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