Picturing water conservation can be a tricky task, but not for Terry County fourth and fifth graders who recently competed in the South Plains Underground Water Conservation District’s calendar artwork contest. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 350 students from Brownfield Oak Grove Elementary, Meadow Burleson Elementary, and Wellman-Union Elementary heard a presentation on the value of water in our lives, tips for conserving water indoors and outdoors, and learned other facts about local water resources. Although some of the students received the annual presentation virtually, others were able to have face-to-face programs prior to schools closing after Spring Break. All fourth and fifth grade students were then challenged to design and illustrate their interpretation of water saving methods. Competition was fierce with only 13 winners selected for the 2021 South Plains UWCD calendar.
The grand prize cover winner for the SPUWCD Calendar was Gunner Skains, a fourth grader and lone entry from Oak Grove Elementary in Brownfield. He received a $50 cash prize for his artwork entitled “Gunner’s Garden” which will be featured on the front cover of the 2021 calendar. The other 12 winners each received a cash prize of $25 and will have their artwork displayed as one of the monthly pages of the calendar.
Wellman-Union winners include Natalia Munoz, “Save Water Save Nature” (March 2021), Emalyn Navarro “Do Your Part” (April 2021), Kate Hesse, “Water is Gold” (July 2021), Avery Cantwell, “After the Pollution” (August 2021), Elizabeth Edwards, “Effects of Not Protecting Water” (October 2021), and Kimberly Rios, “Water is Life” (December 2021). Meadow winners receiving recognition are Riggin Day, “Don’t Waste It – Can’t Replace It” (January 2021), Admirable Garcia, Jr., “Preserve Water” (February 2021), Abby Brockway, “Water Savings at Home” (May 2021), Klinton Coffman, “Water is Like a Diamond” (June 2021), Alejandra Gonzalez, “Outdoor Conservation” (September 2021), and Melanie Calhoun, “Without Water” (November 2021).
The South Plains Underground Water Conservation District would like to thank all of the students who participated by submitting entries as well as congratulate all of the winners whose artwork will be featured in the 2021 calendar! Winning students will receive a calendar next fall containing their represented designs along with a congratulatory letter from the water district.
Calendars will be available to the public December 7, 2020 at the South Plains UWCD office located at 802 Tahoka Road, Brownfield, TX.
Winning pictures can be viewed at http://www.savingh20.org/, the Southern Ogallala Conservation & Outreach Program (SOCOP) education website or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SOCOPsavingh2o/
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The Southern Ogallala Conservation & Outreach Program is the education and public relations division of the Sandy Land UWCD, South Plains UWCD, and Llano Estacado UWCD. SOCOP’s mission is to spread underground water awareness and encourage water conservation practices.
For more information, visit savingh2o.org or contact your local water district.
