Land Stewardship Competition Announced

Grayson LandCare, Inc., a local non-profit organization, is sponsoring a Land Stewardship Competition. The competition is open to all students in grades 8 through 12 who are enrolled in a school in Grayson County (Grayson County Schools, Galax City Schools, Oak Hill Academy) or who are residents of Grayson County and are homeschooled. Students can enter individually or in teams of two to five persons. The goal of the competition is to encourage the young people in the county to gain a better understanding of the economic and environmental problems that Grayson County faces and come up with real solutions that can help solve these problems. The competition starts March 17, 2008. Entry forms and short summaries of the projects are due April 30, 2008. The Land Stewardship Fair, where students will present their projects for judging and prizes will be awarded, will be held May 10, 2008. The first place prize is $1,000, second place is $500, and third place is $250. In addition, ten commendation prizes of $50 each will be awarded. Students can find out more about the competition and download entry forms and other information on the Grayson LandCare website (www.graysonlandcare.org).

            The goal of Grayson LandCare is to create new opportunities for Grayson County using the triple bottom line which means

·        Increasing the income and economic well-being of the citizens of the county

·        In a way that is environmentally sound and sustainable

·        And socially beneficial to the community.

The Land Stewardship Fair and Competition is being co-sponsored by Blue Ridge Forest Cooperative; Carroll-Grayson Cattle Producers Association; Grayson County Farm Bureau; Grayson Natural Foods; Guynn Shopping Center; the LandCare Center of the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources; National Committee for the New River; New River Land Trust; Uptown Independence; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and Virginia Forest Service.