The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) encourages students from kindergarten through 12 th grade to participate in the Conservation Poster Contest. Entries are due to the SWCD in which the student’s school is located by Friday, May 1. Posters must reflect and include the title of the contest theme: “Soil. Where It All Begins,” which celebrates the incredible power of soil to support life in all its forms!
Posters are judged based on conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal. The SWCD commissioners will judge entries and forward the winners to Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI). State winners will be forwarded to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) to compete at the national level, where winners will be announced during NACD’s Annual Meeting in 2027.
The Hand-Drawn Poster Contest is open to K-12 students and divided into five grade divisions (K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12). Posters must be made on regular poster paper; the size can range from 8.5 x 11 inches to 22 x 28 inches, but NACD recommends the size of 11 x 17 inches on 60 lb. paper. Mediums can include paint, crayons, colored pencils, charcoal, stickers, magic markers, paper, or whatever inspires students (with the exception of three-dimensional effects).
The Digital Poster contest is open to 7 th -12 th grade students with two divisions (grades 7-9 and 10-12). Posters can be horizontal or vertical, measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. Students should refer to the contest rules for additional requirements and details.
This year, Madison SWCD is offering local prizes for the winners and runners-up in each of the seven divisions: winners will receive a Casey’s gift card for $10, and runners-up will receive a Casey’s gift card for $5. CDI awards cash prizes for regional ($35) and state ($50) winners. NACD awards cash prizes for first ($200), second ($150), and third ($100) place at the national level.
More information about the Conservation Poster Contest is available on CDI’s website at: https://cdiowa.org/get-involved/poster-contest/. Madison SWCD’s website has additional information about all opportunities for students at: https://www.madison-swcd.org/for-students/.