Awards

The goal of the AISWCD Awards Program is to highlight the diversity of conservation activities that Soil and Water Conservation Districts are engaged in on a daily basis and to provide recognition for these efforts. Entry forms are available in early January and entries into the state competition are due by the end of May. All award winners will be recognized at our Annual Meeting the first part of August.

The Programs are as follows:

1. Auxiliary Poster Contest

The AISWCD Auxiliary sponsors a poster contest every year that highlights the annual NACD Soil and Water Stewardship Theme.  The poster contest provides kindergarten through twelfth grade students throughout Illinois, with the opportunity to share their thoughts on soil, water and related natural resource topics.  Click here to see this years winners!

Awards are given out in the following grade categories:  K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 at the AISWCD Annual Summer Conference.  This year there are two new categories - Grade 4-6 painting with soil and Grade 10-12 Digital Art. The winning state poster entries are than sent on to compete in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest.

2. Auxiliary Photo Contest

This award is sponsored by the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts Auxiliary.  To be considered for this contest, nominee should be an amateur photographer (those who make less than 50% of their income from photography) and are Illinois residents.  Photos must be submitted by the end of May.  See your local SWCD for more contest details and entry forms.  Click here to see this years winners!

Photographs may be entered in the following categories:

Conservation Practices Includes 26 conservation practices: contour buffer strips, contour farming & stripcropping, cover crop, critical area planting, crop residue management, crop rotation, diversion, field borders, grade stabilization structures, grass waterways, livestock management, manure storage and runoff control, nutrient management, pasture planting, pest management, riparian buffer, rotational grazing, stream bank & shoreline stabilization, terrace, tree planting, upland wildlife habitat, water and sediment control basin, well abandonment, wetland restoration, wildlife food plot, windbreaks, and woodlot management.

Close Up Conservation Includes aquatic insects, clean water, crops and plants and water/rain, dirty water/sediment, hands/tools in soil-water-grains-on farm animals, irrigation, plants and soil/residue, plants/flowers/crops, recycling, prairie plants, compost, farm implements, water drops/drips/splashes, and worms/roots/compost.

Conservation in Action SWCDs in action: conservation planning, Youth programs, office staff at work, interaction with landowners, field days, fairs, exhibits, board meetings and more, irrigation/crops and water/wildflowers and water, technical staff at work, wildlife, insects, livestock, aquatic life.

Ag/Conservation Across America Barns, crops, farm practices, fence rows, livestock, implements and tools, ponds, ranching, youth, tree farm, farmers/landowners, grazing, and pastures.

Youth Only This category is designed for youth up to the age of 18.  Photos must fit into one of the categories listed above.

 

3. Outstanding District Employee Award

The purpose of the Outstanding District Employee Award is to recognize those SWCD employees who have went above and beyond the call of duty at their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This award is sponsored by the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Employees Association.

4. Conservation Farm Family Award

The object of this award is to provide recognition to an outstanding conservation family in each of the SWCD that exemplifies Total Resource Management.  Therefore, each SWCD is encouraged to sponsor a local contest and to submit their winner for the Land Use Council (LUC) competition.  From the 16 LUC winners the AISWCD Awards Committee selects a Governor’s Award winner.  Selection is completed prior to and announced at the AISWCD Annual Summer Conference. This award is sponsored by Brownfield Network, Prairie Farmer and AISWCD. Click here to see last year's winners!

5. Outstanding Forestry Contribution Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of Forestry and is spnosored by the Illinois Forestry Association.  Individuals, companies, associations, etc. are eligible to be nominated for this award.

6. George McKibben Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been established by the AISWCD to assist agriculture students in their completion of their education at any Illinois state college (University of Illinois, Western, Southern and Illinois State).  The student awarded the scholarship should demonstrate superior agriculture academic achievement, commitment to soil and water conservation and potential for innovation and/or leadership ability.

 

7. Conservation Teacher of the Year

The purpose of the Conservation Teacher of the Year award is to recognize the outstanding education efforts of our Illinois teachers.  All K-12 educators in public, parochial and private schools are eligible to participate.  To enter the contest teachers must fill out an entry form, and submit typewritten narratives describing their program.