Girl With Local Ties Wins SWCD Poster Contest in Lafayette County

One hundred and forty-four land owners, photo/poster winners, parents, teachers, and area residents attended the 12th annual Lafayette Soil and Water Conservation District Open House held on March 15.
A luncheon of boneless pork loin, baked beans, coleslaw, chips and cookies was served by the District supervisors: Kent Rogge, Wellington, Jim Begemann, Odessa; Justin Salyer, Higginsville;  Glen   Riekhof Concordia, and Whitney Wiegel, Extension Representative.
The meal was prepared by SWCD staff and NRCS staff.  Patrons were able to view the soil district’s accomplishments for the past fiscal year, facts on the state of Missouri and Lafayette County, and winning photo/poster entries.
School children in grades 4 and 5 from the following area elementary  schools participated with a total of 172 entries: Elementary, Lexington; Santa Fe Elementary, Waverly; Trinity Lutheran School, Alma; and Wellington-Napoleon Elementary.
Each student entering the contest received a first, second, third or fourth place ribbon.  Within each grade level the top four winners were awarded a placement rosette and a cash award.
The first place winner in each grade level will be entered into the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Poster Contest which will be held in November of this year.
Among the winners in the 30th SWCD Annual Poster Contest was Presley Barker, Wellington-Napoleon Elementary, first place winner in 4th grade.
Presley is the daughter of Pam (Hall) Barker of Wellington. Pam is a 1985 graduate of Ava High School. Presley is the granddaughter of Becky Abbott, Ava, and the great-granddaughter of the late Edward and Joy Tucker and the late Horace and Hazel Hall, all of Ava.