Updated: Jun 30, 2021

The Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District returns again with its annual summer poster contest open to school-aged children. This year's theme: "Why Conservation Matters."

The contest falls under the HWCD's Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge, an annual showcase of "Action Awareness Projects" that cover a wide range of efforts, including tree-plantings, waterway cleanups, road debris pick-ups, rainwater harvesting, recycling efforts, community gardening and more. Launched in 2016, the Hillsborough 100 initiative is open to individuals and groups, including schools, civic organizations, service clubs, businesses, nonprofits and more.

The summer poster contest is open to applicants in both the junior grades division (K-1, 2-3 and 4-6) and the senior grades division (7-9 and 10-12). Cash awards are given for first- second and third-grade award recipients in both divisions. Each entrant is eligible to receive a personalized certificate of participation and a free ticket to the 2021 Hillsborough County Fair Fall Festival, Oct. 29-31. (Please note: The festival is a new event this year and follows the Hillsborough County Fair, which is set to run Sept. 23-26 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Both events are at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, at 215 Sydney Washer Road.)

For poster contest details and entry form, see the blog attachments below. For more on HSWCD offerings, call Betty Jo Tompkins, HWSCD executive director, at 813-477-8332. Or, email: bjt6890@yahoo.com.