The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) takes pride in saying “Every Day is Earth Day for NRCS.”

In celebration of National Earth Day on April 22, 2008, the NRCS Colorado Earth Team sponsored a state-wide coloring contest for elementary students.  The goal of the contest was to promote an awareness of the importance of preserving Colorado’s natural resources.

Schools taking part in the coloring contest in the Arkansas Valley were Las Animas Elementary; Manzanola Elementary; Fowler Elementary, and Crowley County Elementary in Ordway.  Coloring Contest pictures were distributed to students at two levels—Kindergarten through 2nd and 3rd through 5th.

The Colorado NRCS Earth Team committee judged entries on originality and neatness.  Prizes were awarded to first place winners in each grade and to the two grand champion state winners in each category.

The winners from the Arkansas Valley were:

Jakob Juul, Second Grade, Fowler Elementary School – Grand Champion State Winner in the Kindergarten through 2nd Grade Category.

Lane Walter, First Grade, Crowley County Elementary School – Arkansas Valley First Place Winner in the Kindergarten through 2nd Grade Category.

The Earth Team, the volunteer arm of NRCS, has been around since 1981, when Congress passed legislation allowing NRCS to use volunteers in all programs.  NRCS is the lead federal agency for conserving natural resources on private lands.

The Colorado Earth Team has made the National Earth Day coloring contest an annual event for students throughout Colorado since 2005.