Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District announces Annual Poster Contest

The Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in conjunction with  Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) is pleased to announce the annual poster  contest. The poster contest is open to public, private and home-schooled  students from kindergarten through 12^th grade. This years’ theme is “Soil.  Where It All Begins.”. Each year winning posters highlight the work of the local  soil and water conservation districts and the state conservation associations,  auxiliaries and agencies to protect and enhance natural resources. The posters  will be displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative.  Soil. Where It All Begins, celebrates the incredible power of soil to support life  in all its forms. Soil is not just the ground we walk on. It is the starting point for  healthy food, clean water, thriving habitats, and resilient communities. From  backyard gardens to forests and city parks, everything begins with what is  beneath our feet. When we take care of soil, we are taking care of everything it  supports. That is why soil is where it all begins. The poster contest is just one  activity to celebrate 71st Annual Stewardship Week from April 26 to May 3, 2026,  with the theme “Soil. Where it All Begins.” These efforts are designed to raise  awareness about the vital role that soil plays in the long-term health of the  environment.  

The SWCD Commissioners will choose one winning poster from each of the five divisions. The five divisions are as follows: Division 1 – Grades K and 1; Division  2 - Grades 2 and 3; Division 3 - Grades 4 through 6; Division 4 – Grades 7  through 9; Division 5 – Grades 10 through 12. The posters are judged based  upon the following criteria: 50% for conservation message; 30% for visual  effectiveness; 10% for originality and 10 % for universal appeal. The winner of  each division will receive a prize of $25. The Commissioners will then advance  the winning posters to the state level and if selected, the poster will be sent on to  the national level. Entry forms and rules are available online at  www.cdiowa.org/get-involved/poster-contest/ and at www.dubuqueswcd.org.  Entry forms are also available at the Soil and Water Conservation District’s office  or by emailing helen.backes@ia.nacdnet.net . Entry forms must be legible and  

Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider 

complete including parental/guardian signature and with the Dubuque SWCD  information. Poster entries should be mailed or dropped off at the District office at 210 Bierman Road, Epworth, IA. Entries need to be received to the District’s  office by Friday, May 1, 2026.