Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

News Release

SPRINGFIELD, IL, July 30, 2007—The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) hosted their 59th Annual Meeting and Illinois Land and Water Resources Conference at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield, Illinois where AISWCD Auxiliary honored local amateur photographers who had entered pictures for the seventh annual photo contest.  The overall winner, Cathy Jennings of Vermilion County, was honored at the conference for her photo entitled “Comfy Little Frog.”

Local photographers entered photos in one of the following categories at the state level; conservation, trees and plants, wildlife, landscapes, education. Winners are:
Wildlife Category – “Comfy Little Frog” by Cathy Jennings, Vermilion County
Landscapes Category – “Together in December” by Amy Lovekamp, Menard County
Education Category – “It Tickles” by Emily Groezinger, DeKalb County
            Conservation Category – “Glistening in the Sun” by Anne Rollins, Knox County
            Trees & Plants Category – “Pick of the Crop” by Anne Rollins, Knox County

The AISWCD also established a “Youth Only” category which allows children up to the age of 18 to submit photos for the contest as well.  The winner for this year’s Youth category was Anne Laborde of DeKalb County with her photo titled “Eslinger Cabin”.            
               
Marie Bunting, AISWCD’s Auxiliary Representative was pleased with the submissions for the contest.  “We had so many beautiful photographs submitted for this contest that selecting winners was difficult.”  Bunting and the AISWCD Auxiliary enjoy seeing local people take part in the contest and finding artistic beauty in nature and conservation.

All photographs entered into this year’s AISWCD Auxiliary contest will be forwarded on to compete in the National Association of Conservation Districts Photo Contest later this fall. The AISWCD provides leadership for wise use of Illinois’ natural resources and for the future growth and responsibilities of the 98 Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
###