Mike Parker: Celebration recognizes conservation education
On Wednesday evening, I had the joy and privilege of attending the 2025 Annual Education Celebration sponsored by the Lenoir Soil and Water Conversation District.
The purpose of the statewide Soil and Water Conservation districts is to help people of all ages to understand the importance of protecting and making efficient use of our natural resources. An important part of these efforts is to help students at all levels understand the essential nature of conservation and the ways conservation can be accomplished.
One key part of this educational component is an annual contest that allows students to create posters, make slide shows, write essays, and give speeches focused on conservation. This year, Lenoir County students submitted a total of 289 posters, 21 essays, nine speeches, and 16 slide shows. District winners advanced to state competition, and our area students took first, second, or third place in five categories at the state level.
Adilee Rich received special recognition for her efforts in the state-level 2024 Resources Conservation Workshop. Adilee, who will be attending N.C. State in the fall, impressed her fellow workshop participants and the workshop leaders to such an extent that she received a full scholarship to attend N. C. State.
Robin Beaman was recognized with the 2025 Conservation Stewardship Award for her efforts to involve her students in conservation efforts.
Jessica Jones of Woodington Middle School organized four Envirothon teams that competed in the NC Coastal Area. Three of these teams advanced to the state competition. The teams are UmiZoomie FFA, FFA Barbies, FFA Bubble Guppies, and FFA Rulers. The teams competing at the state level were UmiZoomie FFA, FFA Barbies, and FFA Bubble Guppies.
District contest winners in Third Grade Poster were: 1st Rylee Hoffman, 2nd Julia Whitley, and 3rd Madison Rogers, all from Bethel Christian Academy.
District contest winners in Fourth Grade Poster were: 1st Christian Juarez of Pink Hill Elementary, 2nd Michael Bass of APA, and 3rd Reaves Poole of APA.
District contest winners for Fifth Grade Poster were: 1st Evan Potter of APA, 2nd Carsyn Tyndall of Moss Hill Elementary, and 3rd Kivett Vaughan of APA.
District Sixth Grade Slide Show winners were: 1st Emma Conner, 2nd Elizabeth Gibbs, and 3rd Brett Brinkley, all from APA.
District Eighth Grade Slide Show winners were: 1st Eliza Hawkins and 2nd Rejennae Wallace, both from WMS.
District Sixth Grade Essay winners were: 1st Grace Monte, 2nd Cooper Keen, and 3rd Aarlee Micah Sutton, all from APA.
District Eighth Grade Essay winners were: 1st Kaylan Johnson, 2nd Jace Elmore, and 3rd Zoie Howard, all from WMS.
District 9th-12th Grade Essay winners were: 1st Kiley Ireland, 2nd Braden Barnett, and 3rd Cody Baggett, all from South Lenoir High School.
District Seventh Grade Public Speaking winners were: 1st Grace Bofferding, 2nd Abigail Lucus, and 3rd Sloane Hagan, all from APA.
District Eighth Grade Public Speaking winners were: 1st Addison Burns, 2nd Veda Patel, and 3rd Rilev James, all from APA.
Tara Hughes, who serves as both Board Treasurer and Education Coordinator, closed the celebration with these words from “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss:
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Those are words a reminder we all need to hear.
Congratulations for the Lenoir Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors for their conservation work in our area: Charles Hughes, chairman; Macon Wooten Jr., vice chairman; Tara Hughes, treasurer; and members Taylor Best and Stephen Porter.
Special thanks to staff members Director Janine Lloyd and Cost Share Tech Elizabeth Spence. The board and staff work together to preserve, protect, and promote the wise use of Lenoir County’s natural resources through innovative conservation practices, education, and collaboration to ensure a healthy and thriving environment for generations to come.
My hope is that next year, even more students and schools will become involved in conservation education. Passion for conserving natural resources needs to start at an early age.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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