Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats Essay Winners

In this picture from left to right: Collin Warren, Hannah Brown, Alexis McLarty, Kacie Keifer, Jancee Lashley & Calvin High School Proncipal Rodney Shelton.

Not Pictured are Michael May, Katrecia McDow and Jamie McLarty

Calvin High School Sweeps Conservation Essay Contest

Each year the Dugdemona SWCD celebrates conservation by having a conservation essay contest. The contest has two categories: 8^th Grade and 9^th Grade. The essay contest is open to all 8^th and 9^th graders in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes.

The 2010 theme, "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats" focused on habitats. Conservation of our natural resources is important in every community. Citizens are looking for ways to be involved at their homes, local schools or with community conservation projects. There are plenty of conservation habits that help conserve water, provide shelter for animals, birds and insects, as well as increase their food supplies.

The winners were awarded with cash prizes of: $100.00, $50.00, and $25.00. We also reward the teacher whose student wins first place, by giving them a cash award of $100.00. A great big congratulation goes out to Calvin High School! Calvin High School 8^th and 9^th Grade students swept the competition this year. The Winners are…

8^th Grade: 1^st Place- Alexis McLarty, 2^nd Place- Kacie Keifer, 3^rd Place- Jancee Lashley

9^th Grade: 1^st Place- Collin Warren, 2^nd Place- Hannah Brown, 3^rd Place- Michael May (Michael is now a student at Dodson High School but was a student at Calvin when he participated in this contest.) Katrecia McDow and Jamie McLarty received the 8^th and 9^th Grade Teacher Awards of $100.00. Congratulations to both teachers, ladies you are very deserving of this award.

We extend our sincere thanks to our local school administrators, principals, teachers, and staff who willingly dedicate their valuable time to conservation education. We would like to thank each student who participated in this contest and congratulate our winners. Fantastic job! You made our judges work extremely hard.

We would also like to thank the media who continually support our district, especially the Winn Parish Enterprise, KVCL Radio, the Caldwell Watchman, the Piney Woods Journal and the Jackson Independent.

Last, but certainly not least, we thank our sponsors. Our sponsors are making a tremendous impact in our community and we send our heartfelt thanks to each of you at the Caldwell Parish Farm Bureau, Jackson Parish Farm Bureau, Winn Parish Farm Bureau, Kiwanis Club of Columbia and Louisiana Safety Association of Timbermen. You have made this contest possible through your sponsorship. We greatly appreciate your support.  Our mission is spreading the conservation message. You play an extremely vital role; many of our projects would not be possible without your generosity.

The Dugdemona SWCD is here to help people in our community to learn how important it is to help conserve all our natural resources and how easy it can be. For information about the essay contest, other contest, projects, activities or conservation programs questions may be directed to Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona SWCD office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana, 71483. (We are located in Room 210 above the Winn Parish Health Unit.) You may also call (318) 628-4438. Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may also reach us at anytime via email at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net . Please be sure to visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com or visit us on Facebook.

LOCAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE LOCAL CONSERVATION DECISIONS

Resting in the hands of our local community members is the future of our valuable natural resources and the decisions that are made to conserve, enhance and sustain the integrity of soil, water and air quality in Winn, Jackson and Caldwell parishes and throughout Louisiana. Conservation of our resources cannot be achieved by one group, government agency or the individual – it takes cooperative conservation.

Cooperative conservation starts first with the active involvement of the individual community member who helps to identify the resource needs of the community. Community involvement helps local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assess and prioritize resource concerns on a community level. Local natural resource priorities help direct technical and financial assistance decisions that NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year.

Locally led conservation efforts are successful with the help from our residents. Please, become involved in locally led conservation. A Locally Led Conservation Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26th at the Dugdemona SWCD Office at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210. (2^nd Floor of Winn Parish Health Unit) . The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will take place in room 219; the Winn Parish Genealogical Historical Association's meeting room.

The purpose of the meeting will be to identify resource concerns for your local SWCD. Your involvement is significantly important to the locally led conservation process and all partners involved in conservation. At the Locally Led Conservation Meeting you will be able to voice concerns, provide comments and help to identify conservation issues. Save the date, and help our community make sound conservation decisions – become an active part of locally led conservation and cooperative conservation efforts.

For more information on the Locally Led Conservation Meeting, contact you're the Dugdemona SWCD office at 318-628-4438.

Saline SWCD Spring Plant Sale

Come join us as we assist the Saline SWCD with their Spring Plant Sale. The sale will be on March 31st & April 1st from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Saline SWCD is locates at 2263 Hall Street in Ringgold, LA. For more information you can contact them at 318-894-2174 Extension 204.

Plants will include Agapanthus, Blue Point Juniper, Bottlebrush, Butterfly Bush, Frost Proof Gardenia, Parsoni Juniper, Sweet Olive, Vitex Tree and more.

We hope to see you there!

Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Election for 2011

The Dugdemona SWCD serves Jackson, Winn, and Caldwell Parish west of the Ouachita River.

NOMINATING PERIOD
OPENS: APRIL 1, 2011
CLOSES: APRIL 30, 2011

For individuals interested in serving,
Nomination Petitions can be obtained at:
Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District
301 West Main Street, Suite 210
Winnfield, LA 71483

Petitions must be completed between April 1and April 30, 2011 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2011. For more information please call: 318-628-4438 or
email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net

Election will be held on Saturday June 11, 2011

The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses all of Winn and Jackson Parishes and a portion of Caldwell Parish. Concerned and eligible landowners in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes have an opportunity to help manage and conserve the natural resources in this area by serving on the Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board. If the issues and programs stated in this document interest you, please call Vikkie Lafollette at 628-4438.

I. Mission: To provide leadership, education, and technical assistance through conservation planning and programs to assist all land-users in solving the needs to conserve, sustain and improve the soil, water, and other natural resources in the

Vision: To be recognized as the community leader by establishing partnerships and coordination plans of action to achieve soil and water conservation.

II. Goals and Objectives:
· Establish soil and water conservation policy for the SWCD.
· Assess resource needs.
· Develop strategies to address these needs.
· Provide quality conservation education to Parish educators and school children.
· Provide land users with technical assistance.
· Develop programs to address local natural resource problems.
· Serve as a focal point for addressing local natural resource issues and coordinating various programs to help solve identified concerns.

III. Legal Authority:
Title 3, Section 1201-1219 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes defines a Soil & Water Conservation District as a governmental subdivision of the State of Louisiana, and a public body corporate and politic.

IV. Current Major Issues:
· Landowners needing technical assistance
· Surface Water Quality
· Coastal wetland loss
· Cropland erosion
· Invasive/Non-native plant species
· Urban storm water runoff
· Insufficient operating funds

V. Major Programs and Activities:
· Federal Farm Bill conservation programs
· CWA Section 319 agricultural cost-share program
· Conservation equipment rentals
· Tree seedling sales
· Approval of conservation plans
· Review of Parish planning proposals
· Conservation educational programs for Agricultural producer, school, and civic groups
· Publish SWCD newsletter
· Revise and publish annual business plan and annual report.
VI. Funding Sources:
· State government
· Local governments (Police Jury, Drainage Board)
· Local business and organization donations
· Competitive grants
· Federal grants, cooperative interagency agreements
· Tree sales and equipment rentals
· Educational workshops and seminars

VII. Expectations of SWCD Supervisors:
· Take advantage of SWCD supervisor training opportunities
· Attend board and conservation related meetings
· Participate in district programs and activities
· Serve on a LACD (Louisiana Assoc. of Conservation Districts) committee
· Be involved and responsible for SWCD program direction
· Promote soil and water conservation in the community
· Help manage SWCD staff
· Represent the SWCD in public
· Help secure financial resources
. Attend local, reional, state and national meetings

VIII. Benefits of being a SWCD Supervisor:
· Representing locals resource concerns
· Providing a voice and a service for the citizens within your SWCD
· Satisfaction of providing your time to improve the environment and sustaining local resources
· Being actively involved with assistance and educational programs
· Provide leadership in community resource conservation

Items To Consider Before Submitting a Nomination

1. Do you understand and are you committed to the mission of the District?
   
2. Can you devote the time, resources, and energy required of a SWCD board member?
   
3. Do you understand the roles and responsibilities of the District?
   
4. Are you willing to attend meetings regularly, making them a priority for the duration of your term?
   
5. Are you willing to participate in the necessary training, education, and development activities?
   
6. Will you actively serve on District and LACD Committees?
   

If you are unable to answer any of these questions, please contact the SWCD Chair at (318) 628-4438 for more information.

 

Each year the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts (LACD) awards one scholarship to a Louisiana graduating high school senior who is planning to enter an institution of higher learning within the State of Louisiana as a full-time under-graduate student in the field of agriculture, natural resources or environmental sciences. The amount of the cash award will be set annually and awarded on a one time basis. The purpose of the LACD scholarship is to provide financial support to broaden the educational opportunities for deserving students in Louisiana. All graduating high school seniors in Caldwell, Jackson or Winn Parish who are planning to enter an institution of higher learning within the State of Louisiana as a full-time under-graduate student in the field of agriculture, natural resources or environmental sciences are eligible. Scholarship applicants should submit their application directly to the Dugdemona SWCD by March 25, 2011. The Dugdemona SWCD will select one candidate from all applications received, then send its candidate to the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts (LACD) to compete with 43 other Conservation Districts in the state for the 2011Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts Scholarship. Scholarship applications are available at our office. Applications and additional information is also available on our websites “Teachers” page. Please visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/.