WEBSTER COUNTY, Ky. (3/13/13) - The Webster County Conservation District Awards Banquet was held Thursday night in Dixon, with award winners from across the county being honored.

Each year the conservation district holds essay and art contests that are open to area students. This year the contest, which is sponsored by both Kentucky Farm Bureau and the Webster County Conservation District had 145 participants. The theme this year was “Kentucky’s Forests Branching Out.”

Winner of the Conservation Essay Contest, for grades six through twelve, was Abby Greenfield from Dixon Elementary, followed by Kori Main, also of Dixon and Sarah Miracle of Providence.

The Art Contest, for first to fifth graders, was won by Erin Johnson from Dixon Elementary. Abby Michalak of Providence Elementary was second.

Dixon Elementary earned the School Participation Award by having more students participate than any other school in the county.

The Don Carlisle Education Award for the promotion of conservation education awareness went to Eric Stone, the seventh and eighth grade Science teacher at Dixon Elementary.

The Bill Hatley Memorial Webster County Conservation District Scholarship is awarded to two students, one looking to pursue an agriculture related field and one going into a non-agricultural area. Reese Johnson received the ag scholarship and Nathan Reasor won the non-ag award.

Mike Eddings was given the Wildlife Management Award. He has 113.9 acres of cropland that have been converted to acres for enhanced wildlife.

Wallace Stewart, Daryl Wilkerson, Patsy Hill and Bobby W. Brown earned the Conservation Application award for various projects.

Male and female Cooperator of the year were John Williams and Bonita Chandler.

Appreciation awards were given to the Ranes Family Farm, Austin Martin, Heather Eblen and Hunter Ford.

John Mocko was named the winner of the Newton Distinguished Service Award while the Charles Russell Pioneer Farmer Award was given to Kenneth Hammack.

Webster County Road Department foreman Rob Mooney accepted the Conservation Special Projects award for the county. The award was for efforts to keep the county’s rural roads repaired and accessible through all types of weather.

Finally the Master Conservationist award was given to the Olson Family Farm.

Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor

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