LACD 2010 Outstanding Non-Supervisor of the Year

Cyndi Beaubouef named as LACD 2010 Outstanding Non-Supervisor of the Year

Each year the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts honors individuals for their achievements, accomplishments and hard work promoting natural resources conservation in their local district, at the area level and throughout the State of Louisiana. Awards are given in the five categories: Distinguished Service, Outstanding Supervisor, Outstanding District Secretary, Outstanding District Technician and Outstanding Non-Supervisor. Cyndi Beaubouef was selected as LACD Area III's Outstanding Non- Supervisor of the year for 2010. Cyndi was also selected as the overall state awardee selected from a field of five area nominees.

Cyndi's contribution that enhances the conservation of our natural resources combines two of her great loves, art and teaching. She began her teaching career in January of 2000 in Winn Parish, where she went to many of the schools throughout Winn parish making an impact throughout the community. She incorporates the conservation message in the art lessons to her students. Cyndi is now teaching in Jackson Parish and has been there since August of 2007, again where she teaches a number of students throughout Jackson parish.

She and her students have been participating in the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District's Conservation Poster Contest since she began teaching. She also encourages her students to participate in other district contests and activities that will enhance their conservation education. She is very supportive of the Dugdemona SWCD's conservation education projects. She talks to other educators and encourages those teachers to get involved.

She has encouraged her students to get further involved and participate in other activities such as the conservation essay contest, working as a volunteer in our Community Tree Planting projects and at our annual Project WET Make a Splash Water Festival. Cyndi's teaching of conservation has a lasting affect and keeps on giving back to the community. As she teaches her students, her students teach others. We are proud to honor her contributions by recognizing her as LACD Outstanding Non- Supervisor of the Year.

• Cyndi we congratulate you, you are very deserving of this award. We are extremely grateful for your conservation education efforts.
  

  
   

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!