The Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held their Conservation Field Day on Wednesday, May 7 at Hidden Springs State Park.

Gene Davis, District Conservationist said this annual event has taken place since 1980.

“We had weather problems this morning but the rain finally quit so everything went well,” said Davis. “The teachers seemed to be pleased and the kids enjoyed the day.”

Approximately 350 5th grade students attended this event from 8 different schools in Shelby County. The schools participating were: Cowden, Herrick, Shelbyville’s Moulton Middle School, Neoga, Stew/Stras, Windsor, Assumption, and Stewardson’s Trinity Lutheran.

Those students were given 20 minute presentations. Those presentations included: Electric Safety with Matt Clark of Shelby Electric; Wildlife Biology by Doug Brown and Wade Lewis of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); Soils with Ken Gotsch of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Forestry by Gene Davis; Water Safety by Matt Miller and Amber Goeckner of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; Pond and Lake Biology by Mike Mounce of the IDNR; Outdoor Safety by Glenda Plunkett of the American Red Cross; Gun Safety by Wally Frost of Hidden Springs State Park and Prehistoric Technologies by Al Lookofsky. The students bring a sack lunch and the SWCD provides drinks.

Angela Jeffries teaches 5th grade at Cowden Elementary and she thought the day was worthwhile.

“The students went to nine different stations and learned much about our environment and conservation,” said Jeffries.

Vicki Gregg, Administrative Coordinator for the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District and Vicky Wagner, Shelby County Resource Conservationist organized the Field Day. As a way to show their thanks to the presenters Wagner and Gregg provide lunch.

“We really appreciate all the volunteers who do the presentations each year,” said Gregg.

Wagner said this event would not be possible without the help of Hidden Springs State Park and all the generous merchants who contribute to this Field Day.

“We want to give a huge thanks to the Hidden Springs staff and the wonderful local merchants who donated to this endeavor,” said Wagner.

Wagner said the businesses who helped are:

Wades Quality Meats; County market; Citgo; Shelby County State Bank; Casey’s; Wal-Mart; Busey Bank and TGM Elevators.

“It takes a lot of volunteers, merchants and of course the support of Shelby County Schools that let their students participate in our event each year,” continued Gregg. “I have been told more than once from the students that this is their favorite field trip of the year.”