Plains HS Juniors Win Local Essay Contest

"The water sparkles in the new morning sunlight and the trees sway in the gentle breeze. Water trickles down my throat and tastes as pure as it looks. Beneath my feet the soft dirt squishes between my toes making a perfect footprint in the cool ground. As I look around me, everything seems perfect, and it should be, I have worked to make it this way." ~Shaylin Taylor

"Living in West Texas requires us to have a duty to our resources. Soil and Water conservation is very important to our area because of our vast crop production. Agriculture is crucial to our society and provides jobs and stability for many people, including me. I work every summer with my dad out on the farm therefore, I understand how devastating it would be if farming was taken for granted. It is very critical to our environment that we maintain unpolluted soil and make wise use of our water." ~Paty Avila

"Water is the foundation of our survival, with out it we as a civilization would die. Cod, fresh, clean crisp water; this is what we expect the water we drink to be like. For this to be a reality fore our area, soil and water conservation strategies are what we as a community need to adapt to." ~Tanner Thomason

The samples above are the introductions to the winning papers for this year's Yoakum County Soil and Water Conservation District's essay contest. Shaylin Taylor placed 1st, Paty Avila placed 2nd, and Tanner Thomason placed 3rd. All students in my English classes researched soil and water conservation then wrote papers that dealt with that issue on a personal, local, and/or global level. I was very impressed with the products of their labor. We don't always take the time to consider our own efforts when it comes to conservation of our natural resources, so I think it is important for each generation to take a close look at what they are doing to preserve the gifts God has given us.

Thank you, Jackie Pate (and other members of our Yoakum County Soil and Water Conservation District), for giving us the springboard we need to contemplate the importance of soil and water conservation.

"I know that I need to be more disciplined myself while saving the world today. The only problem left is persuading others to join in the fight for a better, cleaner, and much healthier world, not only for us but for future generations." ~Shaylin Taylor