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CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District recently announced the winners of its annual K-12 poster contest.
The 2020 competition, “Where Would we Bee without Pollinators,” focused on the role of pollinators in the environment and in food production during a period when such beneficial creatures are in decline due to habitat loss, chemical use and other factors.
“That is our stewardship theme for the year,” explains Jacki Zevenbergen, Stormwater Education Program manager, in addressing the significance of pollinators.
The National Association of Conservation Districts, a nonprofit group representing 3,000 conservation districts nationwide, sponsors the annual contest, though individual districts organize and judge the regional offerings.
Winners move on to the state competition in mid-summer and, if successful, vie for monetary prizes at the national level in February.
This year’s local winners included Ayden Gonzalez of Charles A. Mooney School in Cleveland at the second- and third-grade tier.
Donovan Callahan from Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights emerged victorious in the category for fourth- through sixth-graders.
Mayfield Middle School’s Gianna Condelli took home the prize for students from seventh through ninth grades.
The award for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors went to Emeraude Katusevanako at John Marshall School of Engineering in Cleveland.
As with all recent events, the coronavirus pandemic forced the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District to embrace modifications. The district had already decided on a virtual format for the 2020 poster contest, though this year’s winners will likely miss out on one tradition.
“In the normal world, we would have a pizza party for the kids that won,” says Zevenbergen.
The winning posters can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/ydgavvcf.
Make your backyard pollinators happy
In addition to celebrating the stewardship-themed artwork of local students, the district is promoting another initiative that benefits pollinators. A variety of native plants are currently for sale on the district’s website, www.cuyahogaswcd.org/.
Seed packets for a wide array of habitats are available for $12 to $15. An array of native plant plugs are also available for $140. Fall orders, containing 50 plugs, must be submitted by July 17 and will ship the week after Labor Day.
The district, in partnership with Licking Soil and Water Conservation District, also began offering native trees and shrubs in 2020, though sales ended in March.
The website for Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District also provides educators and curious residents with practical information about pollinators, native plants, stormwater management, erosion control, tree care, pollution reduction and more.
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