Kirkpatrick wins Jim Claypool Conservation State Art Award
Published 11:21 am Thursday, April 4, 2019
Photos by Nancy Leedy ANNAGRACE KIRKPATRICK, a student at Waynesburg Elementary School, is the winner of the Jim Claypool Conservation State Art Award.
ANNAGRACE KIRKPATRICK of Waynesburg Elementary School, who was recently named the winner of the Jim Claypool Conservation State Art Award, is presented a framed proclamation of recognition in honor of her state win by Lincoln County Magistrate Joe Stanley. Looking on are Judge Jim W. Adams Jr., left, and Magistrate David Faulkner, right. She was presented the framed proclamation during the Lincoln County Conservation District's annual awards banquet Thursday at Lincoln County Middle School. She was also honored during a ceremony in Frankfort.
STATE ART WINNER AnnaGrace Kirkpatrick, flanked by Lincoln County Magistrates Joe Stanley, left, and David Faulkner, right, shows off the proclamation of recognition she received for winning the Jim Claypool Conservation State Art Award. She was presented the framed proclamation by Lincoln County Judge Jim W. Adams Jr. and the fiscal court during the Lincoln County Conservation District's annual awards banquet Thursday at Lincoln County Middle School.
STANFORD — For the second straight year, the winner of the Jim Claypool Conservation State Art Award has emerged from Lincoln County.
AnnaGrace Kirkpatrick, a student at Waynesburg Elementary School, was honored during a special awards presentation at the Capitol Annex in Frankfort and again at the Lincoln County Conservation District’s annual banquet for winning the 2018 Jim Claypool Start Art Award. She followed in the footsteps of Stanford Elementary’s Kylie Jenkins who won the 2017 award.
This year’s competition, produced through the cooperative efforts of the Kentucky Division of Conservation, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Division of Water, Energy and Environment Cabinet, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Department of Education, and United States Natural Resources Conservation Service, was themed “Diggin’ It!” All entries had to convey at a glance the theme of the competition to persuade the viewer to take action toward good soil conservation practices.
Kirkpatrick, a fifth-grader, created a piece of art that stood out among the 45,281 entries submitted from students in first through fifth grade. Her first- place victory was rewarded with a $250 check. Her entry focused on soil and what it contributes to everyday life. She pointed out that soil helps grow our food, provides a playground, provides homes for animals, grows cotton for our clothes, grows trees for our fresh air and provides foundations for roads and houses. She wraps up her entry by asking the people, “What are you doing for the soil?” and suggests they sow grass and plant seeds to keep soil from being swept away.
Kirkpatrick, 10, the daughter of Kevin and Tiffany Kirkpatrick, had her artwork entered in the state level competition after wrapping up first place at her school, Waynesburg Elementary, and then being named the overall Lincoln County winner.
She was presented her school and county awards at Thursday’s Lincoln County Conservation District banquet at Lincoln County Middle School. District Supervisors John Peek and Kenny Stamper presented Kirkpatrick the first-place school award and Justin Poynter of PBK Bank and Supervisor W.C. Brogle presented the county award. Supervisors Paul Jeffries and Dale Osterman made the announcement of Kirkpatrick being named the state winner.
Judge Jim W. Adams Jr. and Magistrates Joe Stanley and David Faulkner were on hand at the Conservation banquet to make a special presentation on behalf of the Lincoln County Fiscal Court.
“Ninety-four counties competed in this contest and AnnaGrace brought the first-place state award home to Lincoln County,” said Adams. “We would like to present a Proclamation in Recognition of AnnaGrace Kirkpatrick.”
