This year’s theme: wildlife conservation
FRANKFORT —Schools and home-school students have until Dec. 1 to submit their winning entries to the local conservation district in the 2023 Jim Claypool Art and Conservation Writing Contest.
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in cooperation with the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts and the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, announced the contest.
The art contest is for grades 1-5, and the writing contest is for grades 6- 12.
The county will narrow the entries and send finalists to the cabinet for state judging.
State, area and county winners will receive a monetary award from the Kentucky Farm Bureau and recognition from their local conservation districts. The state first-place winner will receive $250, second-place $150 and third-place $50. Regional winners receive $50 and county-level winners $25.
This annual contest helps students from across the commonwealth learn about nature and the importance of natural resources. This year, students will learn about Kentucky’s wildlife.
Sponsors have provided articles, suggested activities, and fun facts and trivia to help students learn more about wildlife and good wildlife conservation practices. A tabloid entitled “Keeping it Wild! Sustaining Kentucky’s Native Wildlife” can be used by teachers in the classroom and students at home. The entry form and rules are included in the tabloid.
The art contests allow students to use the knowledge they have gained about the topic and transform it into creative artwork and written essays.
Entries should focus on encouraging action toward good wildlife conservation practices.
“The contest is a great opportunity to learn more about wildlife in the commonwealth,” Johnna McHugh, acting director of the Kentucky Division of Conservation, said. “Students can learn more about the habitats and lives of Kentucky’s wildlife and will have a reason to go outside and observe for themselves.”
The conservation writing and art contests began in 1944 and 1974, respectively. James B. Claypool was the first assistant director of the Division of Conservation and was hired in 1947. He became director in 1960. A Warren County native, Claypool was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and taught vocational agriculture at Bradfordsville and Greensburg high schools. As director of the division, he was instrumental in expanding conservation education in Kentucky. He died in 1974.
For more information about the contest, please visit your local conservation district office or eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Conservation/Pages/Art-and-Writing-Contest.aspx.