Dunn Youth Environmental Education


National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD’s) Stewardship Week

NACD’s 70th Stewardship Week was celebrated April 27th – May 4th, 2025.  The goal of this celebration, which has been held annually since 1955, is to remind us of our responsibility to care for our natural resources. 

The theme for 2025 is “Home is where the Habitat is”.  Visit NACD’s website to find out more about this year’s theme. Their “Marketplace” offers free downloadable educational materials to educators on this topic. 

 

Land Judging Contest

 

History of the Quad Land Judging Contest…The Quad-County Land Judging Contest (formerly the Tri-County Land Judging Contest) is open to students in grades 9 through 12 interested in learning more about soils. Land judging contests provide students with an opportunity to explore their interests and natural talents in the fields of agronomy, conservation, and engineering. 

Dunn County began a tradition when it held a land judging contest in 1975 at the Fred Vieth Farm in the Town of Elk Mound. Pepin County followed suit and began hosting contests in the 1980s and invited area schools to compete. The first Tri-County Land Judging Contest took place in 1993 when Buffalo County joined Dunn and Pepin Counties in their land judging circuit by hosting the contest at the Clarence Castleberg Farm in the Town of Mondovi. Pierce County students participated in the contest sporadically throughout the years, but in 2025 they joined the group and hosted for the first time.

The 2025 Quad-County Land Judging Contest was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Pierce County.  Over 100 students from Alma, Arcadia, Ellsworth, Plum City, and Menomonie High Schools participated in the event. 

Check out the link below for results and pictures

 

Conservation Awareness Speaking and Poster Contests

"The WI Land + Water Poster and Speaking Contests are one of the many programs that our Youth and Education Committee coordinates to educate and inspire Wisconsin's youth so they continue to care for our beautiful state. The Youth Education Committee directs annual events, such as these contests, to help pass on Wisconsin's rich conservation history to future generations."  -WI Land + Water Conservation Association 
 
County Speaking & Poster Contests  
The annual Dunn County Conservation Awareness Speaking & Poster Contests are held each year in the late fall or early winter.  
  • Youth in grades 5-12 are eligible to participate in the speaking contest. Speeches must promote the conservation of natural resources and the protection or enhancement of environmental quality. Topics may include, but are not limited to, soil and water conservation, water pollution, air quality, wildlife, forestry, land use, toxic and hazardous waste, and solid waste disposal or recycling. Emphasis should be placed on the subject as it relates to our locality or to Wisconsin. First place winners in each of the three divisions of the speaking contest (Elementary, Junior and Senior) compete in the West Central Area Association contest. First place speakers at the area competition advance to the State Competition in March at the WI Land + Water's Annual Conference.
  • The poster contest is open to kindergarten through twelfth grade students. The theme for the poster contest is chosen each year by the National Association of Conservation Districts and the NACD Auxiliary. Posters are evaluated on the following criteria: Conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, universal appeal, and individual artwork. Students compete in county and area competitions with the winning posters advancing to the State Competition in March at the WI Land + Water's Annual Conference. The first-place posters from the state competition represent Wisconsin at the National Association of Conservation District's Annual Meeting.
    • The 2026 National Contest Theme, "Soil. Where it all Begins" must be written on each poster.  Poster size must be 12" x 18" or 14" x 22".  All posters shall be created by an individual student rather than a team of students. Any media may be used: Paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials on regular posters (computer-generated posters will not be accepted). To be eligible for judging, each entry must have a completed and signed entry form attached to the back. Posters are due to the Dunn County Land and Water Conservation Division (LWCD) by 12/12/2025. Please contact the Dunn County LWCD at (715)232-1496 for additional information and the entry form.
    • Check out the National Association of Conservation District's website for additional information on the 2026 theme:  NACD Stewardship and Education - NACD
 
West Central Area Speaking & Poster Contests
  • Participants from nine counties are represented at this event: Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix. Students awarded first place in each of the divisions at both the speaking and poster contests move on to compete at the State competition in March which is held at the WI Land + Water's Annual Conference. 
 
State Speaking & Poster Contests
  • Participants from 72 counties are represented at this event. The first-place winners in each division present their speech before the audience at the WI Land + Water's Annual Conference. The first-place posters from the state competition represent Wisconsin at the National Association of Conservation District's Annual Meeting.