PIERRE, S.D. – Elora Gould, a fifth grade student at Faith Elementary School, is the winner of the 2017 South Dakota Arbor Day Poster Contest.
The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to help promote the importance of Arbor Day and tree planting, and is open to all South Dakota fifth graders. The South Dakota Society of American Foresters, the South Dakota Arborists Association and SDDA RCF sponsor the state contest.
“Gould’s first place poster was selected for its interpretation of the contest theme, ‘Trees Are Terrific…In All Shapes and Sizes!’” said South Dakota Department of Agriculture urban and community forestry coordinator Rachel Ormseth. “Gould has received a $100 cash prize, a certificate of achievement and her poster will be featured on the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s (SDDA) Resource Conservation & Forestry Division’s (RCF) poster contest promotional flyer. Gould’s teacher, Sarah Brindley, will receive $100 for the purchase of educational supplies.”
Anna Blessinger of St. Thomas Elementary School in Madison was selected as the second place winner. Blessinger receives a $75 cash prize and a certificate of achievement. The third place winner, Kaden Kinsley of Jones County Elementary School in Murdo, will receive a certificate and a $50 cash prize. The top 12 artists’ posters will also be featured in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest Calendar.
For more information on Arbor Day in South Dakota, please contact Rachel Ormseth with RCF at 605.773.3594 or email rachel.ormseth@state.sd.us. To view the winning posters, visit http://sdda.sd.gov/conservation-forestry/educational-programs/arbor-day-poster-contest/.
Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit SDDA online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter. SD Ag Chat podcasts can be found http://sdda.sd.gov/news. You may subscribe to SD Ag Chat, free of charge, through Google Play Music, iTunes or from https://sdagchat.podbean.com/.
— South Dakota Department of Agriculture
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