Shantell Bertch was named the district’s overall winner in the recent grocery sack contest. She won $10 and will receive an airplane ride over the county.

To help spread the message of Soil and Water Stewardship Week, April 24 through May 1, the Tama Soil & Water Conservation District recently held a grocery sack decorating contest in local schools. The activity was open to third, fourth and fifth grade students in the county schools which chose to participate. 288 students created contest entries this year.

This year’s theme is “We All Need Trees.” It emphasizes the influence of trees on our air, water, shelter, food, clothing, and soil.

The district’s overall winner is fourth grader Shantell Bertch of Dysart-Geneseo Elementary. She won $10 and will be treated to an airplane ride over Tama County by Garry Brandenburg, retired Marshall County Conservation Board Director.

Congratulations to all the winners! Look for the students’ art work sharing the message of soil on renewable paper grocery sacks at the following stores: Terry’s Food Center in Dysart, Hometown Foods in Traer, Trunck’s in Reinbeck and Fareway in Toledo. “Thank you!” to these stores for their sack donations.

Thanks for supporting Soil and Water Stewardship Week also go to the students and local schools who participated!