By Tom Boisvert

Conservation Program Manager

LINCOLN COUNTY – Students and educators from Lincoln County schools participated in the annual Conservation Poster Contest hosted by the Lincoln County Conservation Program.

The Conservation Contest encourages students to submit posters that illustrate the conservation theme of the year.

For 2023, the Conservation Contest theme is “One Water.”

Water is one of the foundations for life. Clean water is necessary for crops, drinking, industry, sanitation, livestock, and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. Because of this, a student’s creativity could drift in countless ways to display the 2023 theme.

And without a doubt, all students that participated provided unique posters that helped promote the importance of conservation.

The Conservation contest is an excellent opportunity for students to expand their appreciation for the environment, conservation, and become involved with numerous Wisconsin Academic Standards. Educators that have been involved with the contest found this connection to standards helpful, and have enjoyed the opportunity to promote conservation within the classroom.

“As someone that cares about conservation personally, it was great to see that the kids enjoyed this contest at a young age,” said Aubrey Boisvert, First Grade Teacher at Tomahawk Elementary School. “They were able to learn about water health, and had fun while doing so.”

The Conservation Contest has several stages of competitions, and winners from each stage advance to the next. The contest begins at the local level (Lincoln County), which then proceeds to an Area Contest which includes nine counties, a state contest and even a national contest.

K-1 category winners include Maika Follensbee, Ella Hess and Abigail Ross in first, second and third places, respectively. All students are in Mrs. Boisvert’s class at Tomahawk Elementary.

2-3 category winners: Jenna Peterson, Morgan Webb and Kinsley Young. All students are in Mrs. Thompson’s class at Trinity Merrill Lutheran School.

Grades 7-9 category winners: Jayda Nowak, Amarianna McCutcheon and Danica Lipke. All students are in Ms. Wagenaar’s Art class at Merrill High School.

Grades 10-12 category winners: Sebastian Doering, Aaron Alloway and Kaytlyn Hulke. All students are in Ms. Wagenaar’s Art class at Merrill High School.

For more information about the Annual Conservation Contest, contact Tom Boisvert, Conservation Program Manager, at 715-539-1054.