MonticelloLive

Drew County Conservation District hosted the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts Monroe R. Samuel Forestry annual state forestry clinic.  The clinic held April 22, 2008 on the University of Monticello demonstration forest and in the Homer Pace Building at the Drew County fairgrounds promotes forestry with high school students across the state. 

A native of Hope, Mr. Samuel was very active and served many years as the chairman of the Hempstead County Conservation District Board.  He devoted much of his time voluntarily to promoting proper use and management of the nation’s forest resources.  It is because of his commitment to forestry education for the youth of Arkansas that the  Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts has dedicated this annual clinic to Mr. Monroe R. Samuel.

Sixty eight students on seventeen teams representing twelve schools from Mena to Hermitage and Drew Central participated.  The clinic tests students on 8 categories of forestry management.  The six highest scoring teams are eligible to attend the regional competition on May 2.

Each conservation district may send up to three teams to the state clinic.  This year’s qualifying teams for the regional contest are:
1.      Hermitage Team #1
2.      Mena
3.      Hermitage Team #2
4.      Wickes Team #1
5.      Umpire Team #1
6.      Taylor High

Mr. Trumann Hamilton, Executive Director of the Monticello Economic Development Commission and County Judge Damon Lampkin joined the group for catfish lunch and the awards ceremony.  Dr. Matthew Pelkki, PhD, University of Arkansas at Monticello, gave a slide presentation on forestry of the present and changes in progress for the future forestry workers.

This summer the conservation district will sponsor students from the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades to a Youth Conservation Workshop held June 8-13 at Camp Clearfork in Mt Ida.  Deadline to enter is May 1.  Please contact the district office at 419 West Gaines Street, Suite 3, 367-8400 ext. 3 to fill out an application.

For local churches, the district provides bulletin inserts for Stewardship Week April 27-May 4.  The 2008 theme for Stewardship Week is Water is Life.  If your church has not been contacted, please call 367-8400 ext. 3.

Conservation districts in Arkansas are political subdivision of the state.  The Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts is a body composed of all conservation districts in Arkansas.  Technical assistance is provided primarily through a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.