The Elk Conservation District (ECD) held its annual fall awards banquet this past Thursday evening, September 28, 2023 at Camp Caesar in Webster County. The Awards Banquet honored several partners in conservation and featured a variety of presentations.
First to be honored were the 2023 Conservation Farm Winners. Farm winners for the district were Roger and Mary Ellen Turner of Braxton County, Roy and Linda Keeney of Nicholas County and Matt and Racquel Schafer of Webster County.
Next ECD recognized the Clay and Webster County High School Envirothon Teams. Clay County FFA Team Gold placed 6th overall in the competition and received a score of third place in the Forestry division. Members of the Clay FFA Team Gold are Maddie Morton, Skylar Adkins, Johnna Keaton, Skylar Lane and Olivia Witt. Clay County FFA Team Blue placed 2nd overall in the competition and received a score of 1st place in Forestry and Final Oral Presentation. Members of the Clay FFA Team Gold are Trent Hinkle, Kaylah Kennedy, Parker Taylor, Shyanne Lane, and James Grose. The Coach for the Clay County Teams is Ms. Kelsey Flinn who is a teacher at Clay County High School. The Webster County Highlanders Team placed 15th overall in the competition and received a score of third place in the Fifth Topic division. Members of the Webster Highlanders team are Cheyenne Brown, Zeke Gray, Quentin Via, Isaac Treadway and Cegina Ray. The Coach for the Webster County Team is Ms. Casey Compton and her assistant coach is Mr. Bryan Barnett.
ECD chose to nominate Mr. Johnny King with the West Virginia Division of Forestry for the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts Member At large Nominee and Ms. Linda Brown as the WVACD Honorary Member Nominee. Both will be recognized at the state level during the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts Annual Awards Banquet in October at the Days Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Flatwoods, West Virginia.
The Elk Conservation District office is located on Airport Road in Sutton, West Virginia and serves Braxton, Clay, Nicholas and Webster Counties. The ECD Board of Supervisors consists of Linda Brown, Debbie Hamric, Keyota Jarvis, Jeremy Cantrell, Larry Greynolds, John Pitsenbarger, Mike Smalley and Clark Mollohan.