County observes soil, water conservation stewardship week
Awards banquet slated May 16

Soil, water conservation district board members are from left, Nolan Scrubbs, director zone 1; Morris Dixon, director, zone 3; Roland Adams, chairman and director zone 2; Chris Lester, soil conservationist; Bill Poteet, zone 4 director; Trey Watson, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation board representative. Harold Parker, zone 5 director is not pictured.

The Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), has proclaimed April 27-May 4 as Stewardship Week with the theme "Water is Life." NACD represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts which were established to encourage resource conservation across the county

The Earth's water is in constant motion in the process known as the hydrologic (water) cycle. There is no beginning or end to the hydrologic cycle. Water available to users can change due to the cycles of weather and changes in water quality. Throughout time, the same water has been transferred into the earth's atmosphere and dropped on land again where it follows the water cycle through plants, soil, water bodies, animals and clouds. That means the water we use today is the same water that was here when dinosaurs roamed the land.

Citizens are encouraged to become aware of water quality and quantity in the community and learn how watersheds work.

Watersheds are the places people call home, where they work and where they play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. Managing the water and other natural resources is an effective and efficient way to sustain the local economy and environmental health.

Sponsoring an annual conservation poster contest is one of the many efforts of the local district to promote awareness of good stewardship to youth. All children in the county through age 12 were invited to participate in a poster contest. This year's youngest conservationists are: first place, Rafael Garcia, 12, of New Summerfield; second place, Denea Booth, 12, of Wells; and third place, Haile Sanders, 11, of Joe Wright Elementary.

The three, along with FFA student participants in the soil judging, wildlife management and woodlands contest will be recognized at the 52nd annual Awards banquet on May 16 at Norman Activity Center in Jacksonville. Scholarships, trophies and plaques will be awarded. Also honored will be various agricultural operators who have demonstrated exemplary conservation practices in their endeavors. From the Mixon area, cow/calf rancher Junior Kirby has been recommended by director Nolan Scruggs, zone I. Roland Adams, zone 2 and chairman of the board of directors, has chosen Charles Jasper, beef cattle rancher to be honored. Bill Poteet, director zone IV, will be recognizing horticulture businessmen B.R. & Don Darby, father and son.

The board of directors will also recognize two of its own, Bill Poteet of New Summerfield and Harold Parker of Alto, for years of service to the county.

For information about Stewardship Week, conservation, and the Annual Awards Banquet, contact Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District at (903) 683-4669. You can visit www.nacdnet.org to learn more about NACD and Stewardship Week.