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. Please contact your local SWCD for more contest guidelines or contact the Education Coordinator
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 along with a Digital Art division at the AISWCD Annual Summer Conference. 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:
a. Conservation
Photos of volunteers planting trees or of district personnel advising a producer could be entered in this category. Shots of erosion, a polluted stream or other conservation challenges are also appropriate.
b. Education
Show a workshop for local teachers or a producer learning about wetlands and is also a place for your best photos of children taking part in conservation activities.
c. Trees and Plants
Enter anything from a field of wildflowers to a gnarled oak tree.
d. Wildlife
In this category, you might show deer running through the woods or a bird nest in an urban neighborhood.
e. Landscapes
Sunsets, mountains, city parks and other impressive views are appropriate subjects for this category.
f. Youth Only
This category is designed for youth up to the age of 18. Photos may cover any subject and are judged as one category.
3. Outstanding District Director Award - Temporally suspended
The purpose of the Outstanding District Director Award is to honor directors for their leadership and dedication to their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
4. Outstanding District Employee Award - Temporally suspended
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.
5. 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.
Reference: Sample Conservation Farm Family Award Application
6. Outstanding Forestry Contribution Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of Forestry. Individuals, companies, associations, etc. are eligible to be nominated for this award.
7. 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.
8. Distinguished Merit Award - Temporally suspended
This award is presented to any individual, group or organization making an outstanding contribution in the field of soil conservation and/or water quality.
9. Conservation Teacher of the Year - Temporally suspended
The purpose of the Conservation Teacher of the Year award is to recognize the outstanding education efforts of our Illinois teachers. Elementary (K-6) and Secondary (Grades 7-12) educators are recognized in separate categories. All teachers 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.
10. Sustainable Argriculture Award 2008
The Sustainable Agriculture Award is being sponsored by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The objective is to recognize farmers in Illinois who are doing an outstanding job of implementing sustainable agriculture systems on their farm, as well as promoting the use of sustainable agriculture practices throughout Illinois.