Trees provide beauty within our communities and are a major component of many products that we use each and every day. But trees also provide a benefit that often goes unnoticed – trees produce and conserve energy.
A group of fifth grade students across the 4-County Electric Power Association service area learned how properly selected and planted trees conserve energy by participating in the cooperative”s first annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.
Using the theme, “Trees are Terrific … and Energy Wise!,” students from eight schools participated in the contest. Included in the contest rules were lesson plans that outlined the importance of trees in conserving energy, and their value in everyday life.
Each participating school picked a winner for its school, and those winners competed against each other for the overall contest winner honor. This year”s overall winner was Desmyn Scaff of New Hope Elemtary School. She is the daughter of Chris and Shannon Scaff. Other participants, and winners at their schools, were: Sydney Jennings of French Camp Academy, Andrew Foreman of Immanuel Center for Christian Education, Abigail McNutt of Weir Attendance Center, Mattee McCain of East Webster Elementary School, Vincent Harris of West Lowndes Elementary School, Rebecca Brand of Hebron Christian School, and Keasheeka Clark of East Oktibbeha Elementary School. A panel of nine judges reviewed the entries.
As overall winner of the contest, Scaff won a tree planting ceremony to be held Feb. 12 (Mississippi Arbor Day) at her school. Her winning poster will be displayed at all 4-County offices throughout the month of February. In addition, her poster as well as the posters from the other participants will be entered in the upcoming statewide Arbor Day Poster contest.
The cooperative is invested in being a good steward of our precious natural resources. One of the ways it accomplishes that objective is involvement in the National Arbor Day Foundation”s Tree Line USA program. Part of the cooperative”s participation in the program involves educational opportunities, like the poster contest, for schools in its service area. 4-County is the first cooperative in Mississippi to achieve the Tree Line USA designation.
“We”re excited about our first Arbor Day Poster Contest. Each of the posters was outstanding. More importantly, our youth had the opportunity to learn more about trees and their value in everyday life,” said Brad Barr, 4-County communications coordinator.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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