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 by clicking on the award name with entries into the state competition due by the date listed on the application. Award applications are PDF for Word fillable forms. All award winners will be recognized at our Annual Meeting.

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.

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. 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.

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.


2013 Award Applications click HERE