Get the Scoop on Soil 

Jeff Noble, Breathitt County Voice

This year, hundreds of schoolchildren throughout Breathitt County were told that Kentucky’s soil was “worth protecting”. With that theme in mind, those boys and girls went out to write essays and create works of art which pounded home that theme.

Just as they have for the past 33 years, the Breathitt County Conservation District (BCCD) held their annual Awards Banquet last Friday. This year would be number 34 for the group, and scattered among the offerings of fried chicken and door prizes were 89 students who took home one of the awards.

Casey Tarver was one of them.

“My essay was called ‘Soil - Are You Diggin’ It?’, said the SMS 7th Grader who won a 2nd Place Award for writing. “I learned a lot of things when I was researching this. I didn’t know you could have so many uses for soil. You wouldn’t have blue jeans if you didn’t have soil, or cereals, or plants, or anything.” As he looked in pride at his winnings, Tarver was amazed he placed so high. “I couldn’t believe I’d go that far. But then, this is pretty cool.”

And for the other students that took home the goods, the evening at the Breathitt High School Cafeteria was pretty cool. There were familiar faces, like BCCD Chairman Charles Hardin at the podium emceeing the event again. Harding should know - he’s been to quite a few of these. “Believe you me, I’ve made every one but one banquet, and I haven’t lost a pound yet. I hope you get the ‘scoop’ on good soil. If you do, you’ll raise a delicious, wonderful garden. If not, your neighbors will have to come to rescue you.”

Throughout the room, references to the “youth of today” were evident. They were in the words of Reverend Eldon Miller’s Invocation before the banquet, as he said, “Bless these fine young people, Lord, and the wonderful way they’re helping this county.” It could be heard in the sound of Josh Mullins’ fingers, as he played “The Star-Spangled Banner” on his guitar. And it was brought up by Hardin once again after dessert was served. “We had 636 boys and girls in Grades 1 through 5 enter the Art Contest. And we had 319 boys and girls enter the Writing Contest in the upper Grades 6-12. That’s a total of 955 students who participated this year. Can you imagine all of them in this room tonight? We’re here tonight because of these boys and girls.”

Then the audience of some 250 parents, family and friends settled in to see if their loved one would walk to the podium to get their award. Jordan Daniels, a 6th Grader at Riverside Christian School, took top honors as the County Winner in the Writing Contest. Not only did he get to read his essay, Jordan also picked other prizes, including $50. Right behind him as County Runner-Up in Writing was Carrie Winegardner, a Junior at Jackson City High School. Carrie was unable to attend, but organizers said she won $25 and other prizes for her efforts.

The County Winner in the Art Contest was Travis Arrowood, a 3rd Grader at Jackson City School. Not only did Travis take home $50 and other prizes - his winning poster, “Get the Scoop on Good Soil” was featured on the Awards Banquet program, and also was the State Runner-Up in the 2006 Art Contest. As for the Art Contest Runner-Up, that honor went to Dustin Allen. A 5th Grader at LBJ, Dustin proudly accepted his awards, including a $25 prize.

The rest of the children and teenagers came next. Groups of them walked up front to claim their prize. First it was LBJ, then Highland-Turner. Marie Roberts-Caney was next, followed by Rousseau and SMS. Then Breathitt High, Riverside and Jackson City, with Mt. Carmel bringing up the rear. The complete list of all the winners can be found elsewhere in this week’s edition of the Voice.

As far as Judah Voth was concerned, he was proud as punch of what he won, but wanted to win some more. “I drew sunflowers. I drew a sun. And I think I drew some clouds, too,” noted Voth, who’s a 2nd Grader at Riverside Christian. His efforts made him the Overall Winner for Art at Riverside. “I wrote on it, ‘Soil - It’s Good to Grow’. Yeah, I’m excited with all the awards, but right now, I hope I’ll win a door prize.”

In another part of the cafeteria, David Spicer was trying to keep his sister from claiming some of his prizes. “I drew a tractor making soybeans, and I just found out about winning a moment ago,” said the 4th Grader at Highland-Turner who won 1st Place in Art. “I got all these neat things like a certificate and I won $10, too. But my sister here wants me to spend it on her.”

It wasn’t all about the children this warm night. Several adults got recognized for their efforts in soil conservation and effective land use. Jacob “Jake” Combs got the Conservation and Beautification Around the Home Award from BCCD Member Alta Lindon. As they showed video of the garden and house Jake and his family live in, Lindon told the crowd, “Jake’s been playing in the dirt again!”, to which Combs replied with “I’ve been improving on that land since ‘72.”

Another major winner was the team of Charles Morgan and Hobart Miller, who put $10,000 in fencing improvements on some property at Middle Fork, on the Old Highland Road. “This is an example of what can be done right about improving property,” added BCCD Member Bryan Combs. Then as he showed a fine video of the land about to be awarded the Phase I Award, Combs saw something strange. “That’s the strangest looking cow I’ve ever seen. No, wait, that’s buffalo.”

Which it was.

Among others receiving awards were Jane Dubois and David Fletcher of the Kentucky Division of Forestry. The two got Outstanding Assistance Awards from BCCD Field Representative Anthony Mullins; as did Claudia Turner and Patricia Moore of the Farm Service Agency.

Despite several events going on last weekend, organizers said they were well-satisfied with the turnout. With the school systems helping to sponsor the banquet along with the Louisville Courier-Journal and Kentucky Farm Bureau, BCCD Administrative Secretary Debbie Marshall was glad another tradition in Breathitt County was successful. She thinks she knows why it is, too. “What brings people back here every year for this? I think it’s the kids. The parents support the children, and they’re interested in art and writing, so they really make this special, and the parents come out to this event. Just look at Travis Arrowood. He won the Art Contest in the county, and this young man was State Runner-Up. That’s worth talking about. You bet we’ll do it again next year, when it’s number 35.”

This year the Breathitt County Conservation District is pleased to annouce that Travis Arrowood from Jackson City School was the states 2nd place winner in the Art Contest. We would like to Congratulate Travis on his accomplishment

Stewarship Dinner for pastors was a great success at the Old Country Inn on April 24, 2007 at 6:30 pm.

The Breathitt County Conservation District just recently held a tree giveaway at the conservation district. All together nearly 4000 trees were distrubuted to the people of Breathitt County.

Check back frequently for heifer sales in our region.