Local 5th Graders Should Enter this Contest

Have any aspiring artists in schools around west central Missouri, or for that matter, across the state? The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is inviting students to participate in the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association annual poster contest recognizing and celebrating Drinking Water Week, May 2-8, 2021.

Growing up in Missouri I was on the farm until I was five years old. The water that we used at our house and my grandparents home was supplied by a cistern. For those of you not familiar with that source of water, according to merriamwebster.com this is the definition of a cistern:

an artificial reservoir (such as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (such as rainwater)

When we moved to town the water was supplied by the city of Butler. I don't think we thought much about polluted water during my childhood but I'm sure there were many contaminants out there.

Of course back in my childhood days, bottled water wasn't a thing either. In fact, I don't think the smaller bottles were available. If it was and you told someone that you bought a bottled water to drink, they'd think you were crazy.  I really don't know that clean water was as much of an issue in the my childhood days (60s/early 70s) as it is currently and during the past few decades.

So getting back to the theme of this story, Drinking Water Week and the contest for fifth graders, we thought it would be a good idea to spread the word for students that are going to school in either public or private schools and for home-schooled kids.

This year’s contest theme is “There when you need it.” Contest entries must be postmarked or submitted electronically by April 1, 2021. Each entry should include the student’s name, teacher’s name and school’s name, address and telephone. Students should also sign the front of the artwork. The artwork can be no larger than 11 by 17 inches or a 3 MB pdf.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners: $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place. The winners will be featured on the DNR website as well as on social media.

Mail entries to: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Attn: Tisha Holden, LCSOB-4E,  P.O. Box, 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Submit electronic entries as a pdf to socialmedia@dnr.mo.gov.

Good luck!