ESSAY AND POSTER CONTEST

The Fannin Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors a Poster and Essay Contest for the youth of Fannin County each year. The poster contest is open to boys and girls 12 and under. The essay contest has two categories, one for 13 and younger and one for 14 through 18 years of age. Awards of twenty-five, fifteen and ten dollars go to the top three winners in each contest and all students receive a certificate of participation along with a tree seedling. The Fannin SWCD appreciates all the teachers and parents that encourage their students to enter these contests; it helps to bring awareness of the importance of soil and water conservation to young minds. All of the winning entries will advance to the Area Five Contest with the winners to be announced in April.

There were only two entries this year in the 14 and over essay contest "What Conservation Means to Me" and the winner was Micala Michaud! Micala is a 14-year-old homeschooler from Bonham. She has been in 4-H for 6 years and is the 1st Vice President of the Bonham 4-H Club and the treasurer of the Fannin 4-H Council. Micala is involved in several projects thru 4-H such as food and nutrition quiz bowl, public speaking, forestry and photography. She would like to become an archeologist or photographer. She enjoys reading, writing and drawing, hanging out with friends and listening to music.

Jennifer Bryan a homeschooled Junior placed second. She is the daughter of J.D and Linda Bryan of Trenton. She is very involved in several extra curricular activities such as robotics, speech, debate and her youth group at church.

Makagan Mitchell placed first in the 13 and younger category of the essay contest. She is a 6th grade honor student at Dodd City Elementary. Makagan is very active in 4-H, and FFA. She participates in show teams for both organizations with her Braford Cattle as well as being on junior livestock judging teams. She enjoys playing softball year round as the catcher on the Select Texas Zoom team. Makagan was the winner of the Area V Essay Contest in 2007 and placed second in the contest last year. Makagan also entered the poster contest this year and placed third.

Our second place winner in the younger essay contest was Selah Burnett. She is an 8th grade honor student at Ector Jr. High. She is a member of the Beta Club and participates in UIL. Selah is an active member and officer of the Bonham 4-H Club. She has won numerous awards for her 4-H projects and won awards at the county fair for her rabbits, cooking, arts and crafts and photography. She has won several reading awards over the years. She tutored younger children at the Family Life Center for two years. Selah has served with her family as missionaries, her mission work has involved her in TV/Video programs such as The Finger Food Café, The Grand Opening and others. She has been involved and been recognized in the magazine Brio for the work she has done in sharing devotionals and Christian song in sign language for DVDs. Selah plays basketball for the Ector Jr. High girls team. She has participated in the Fannin County Fair Princess and Duchess contest for 4 years, one year she won the modeling award and last year she won second runner up.