Columbia, SC—Four students have been named winners in Richland County’s 2014 Conservation Poster Contest, sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD):
These students will receive $25.00 cash prizes, and their posters will advance to the state competition, sponsored by the South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts. State winners will advance to the national competition, sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.
This year’s poster contest theme was “Dig Deeper: Mysteries in the Soil.” One teaspoon of healthy soil contains millions of organisms, and healthy soil performs vital ecosystem services such as supporting plant growth, protecting water quality, providing wildlife habitat, and mediating climate change. Students’ posters were created to educate others about soil science and to encourage soil conservation.
“Soil conservation is such an important message for Conservation Districts to convey,” says Kenny Mullis, a Commissioner with the Richland SWCD. “Districts were founded during the Dust Bowl Era specifically to protect soils against erosion and depletion. While much has changed since those days, the need for soil conservation remains.”
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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. In South Carolina, Conservation District boundaries conform to County boundaries. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise planning and use of natural resources for the benefit of the citizens of Richland County.
Contact
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone (803) 576-2080
Fax (803) 576-2088