Kentucky’s

2012 Conservation Writing and Jim Claypool Art Contests Sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation and Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts

2012 What is a ?

Forests are more than “just a bunch of ”. They are complex communities that support a rich variety of plants and animals – over 750 wildlife species and over 1,800 different kinds of plants. They protect fragile soils from erosion, purify water and even, by reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, improve air quality. Forests cover 47 percent of Kentucky’s land area – some 12 million acres. They provide employment for more than 35,000 Kentuckians, and industries add an estimated $8.5 billion to Kentucky’s economy each year. The forest is made up of a series of levels of life, arranged from the tops of the trees to the ground on which they grow. Each level constitutes a habitat where different species of plants and animals live. Altogether, the parts of the forest and the plants and the animals living in them make up the complex ecosystem we call, simply, a “forest.” The top level, called the canopy, is formed by the crowns – the leafy tops – of the tallest trees. This is where photosynthesis – using sunlight to manufacture food the can use – is carried on most actively. It’s also the home of thousands of insects. These in turn attract thousands of insect-eating birds. Squirrels are also active in the canopy because seeds and nuts are plentiful there. The next level is the understory. It’s made up of small trees pushing upward toward the light. It has its own population of animals, birds and insects that find the feeding conditions to their liking. The next layer, considered part of the understory, is called the shrub/herb layer and is composed of many kinds of shrubs, low-lying wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and vines, which offer still different nesting and feeding opportunities. This is the home of many of our songbirds that rely on the berries and seeds of shrubs for food and living here are also mice, insects, snakes and toads. At the bottom is the forest floor where accumulations of autumn leaves, twigs, branches and even whole trees lie until they’re turned into humus – a rich, absorbent, brown or black layer of soil – by weather and the activity of the fungi, millipedes, ants and other insects.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 2 Kentucky’s Centennial

This year officially marks the centennial anniversary of the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF). Originally known as the Board of Forestry as established in 1912 by the Kentucky General Assembly, KDF is the oldest state forestry agency in the South. From assisting landowners to suppressing , KDF has been the backbone of forest conservation in Kentucky for the last 100 years. As we navigate the future, however, KDF and rangers will need to prioritize projects and focus on critical areas in our state. Given that Kentucky has over 12 million acres of forestland, this will be a daunting task for generations to come. So, let’s rejoice in the accomplishments of our past, but let us not forget to lend a hand in conserving our forest resources today. After all, it’s our legacy to the future!

1912 Creation of the Board of Forestry 1914 First Tree Nurseries By the early 1900’s, Kentucky’s forests had been over-harvested, cleared for Two state-owned tree nurseries were agriculture and charred by wildfires. In response to the depleting resource, established in 1914 to raise tree seedlings the Kentucky General and create state forest reserves. The first Assembly empowered and largest nursery was located at the a new Board of 1913 First Fire Protection Association fairgrounds in Louisville and a smaller Agriculture, Forestry Under the guidance of the Board of Forestry, the and Irrigation to first Fire Protection Association was organized nursery was created in Frankfort. These act as a forestry in 1913 in Harlan County. Landowners paid nurseries were later replaced by the John commission for the state in 1906. By 1912, a yearly one-cent-per-acre P. Rhody Nursery and the Morgan County the Assembly also passed a law to adopt the tax and by 1915, the area of protection Nursery. KDF’s nurseries today are capable recommendations of a U.S. Forest Service encompassed 200,000 acres and extended to of growing three to four million seedlings Report to create a dedicated Board of Forestry. neighboring counties. annually.

1919 First State Forest 1933 Civilian Conservation Corp Comes to Kentucky In 1919, the Board of Forestry acquired its first state-owned The Great Depression of the 1930s, as devastating as it was to the forest. The property – located in Harlan County on the south nation, had a positive impact on forestry. One of President Franklin side of Pine Mountain – was deeded to the Commonwealth D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs was the Civilian Conservation by the Kentenia-Cartron Corporation and subsequently Corps (CCC). From 1933 to 1942, CCC camps were established in named Kentenia State Forest. The initial tracts of land every state, including Kentucky. Among other duties, the young men at Kentenia totaled 3,624 acres. Today, KDF owns and in these camps worked to reclaim forests by erecting fire towers, manages nine state forest properties across the state fighting forest fires and planting trees. CCC markers, like the one encompassing over 43,000 acres. located near Cumberland Falls, can be found throughout Kentucky.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 3 1944 Smokey Bear’s Birthday 1948 General Assembly Enacts Laws Smokey Bear, a mascot of the United States Forest for Service, was created in 1944 as an advertising campaign The Kentucky General Assembly enacted of the Ad Council and the National Association of State laws in 1948 that provided for guidance Foresters to educate the public about the dangers of in forest management. These laws serve forest fires. The living symbol of Smokey Bear was an as the foundation for the Kentucky Forest American black bear cub that survived the Capitan Gap Stewardship program that provides fire in New Mexico in the spring of 1950. Smokey Bear technical assistance to public and has been the basis for KDF’s fire prevention education private landowners for the purpose of program in schools throughout the state since the 1950s. sustaining forest resources.

1964 in Kentucky Designated as the First Friday in April 1970 Fire Towers Give Way to Aerial Detection Although the Kentucky General Assembly established Arbor Day in The 70s brought changes to the way the division located forest fires. Fire towers that were traditionally our state in 1896 as a day set aside for recognizing the importance of used were retired from service and the division began trees, the actual day changed several times until the 1960’s. At KDF’s using aerial detection to spot fires. This method has request, in 1964, Kentucky Legislature designated the first Friday of proven very effective in locating and suppressing April as Arbor Day in Kentucky. wildfires.

1980 1990 Forest Management 1998 Kentucky Forest 2012 KDF Today and Tomorrow Kentucky Makes Strides Conservation Act KDF celebrates a rich history in forestry. Establishes In 1990, the division’s forest Two years after the creation Historically, the division has enforced an Urban & management program—a of the Kentucky Forest forest fire protection laws, provided Community program that provides Conservation Act (KFCA) in fire suppression on private land, Forestry technical assistance to 1998, the division became conducted fire prevention activities, Program landowners— was upgraded responsible for inspecting maintained a tree seedling program and In the 80s, to encompass the federal commercial timber harvesting provided technical assistance to private Stewardship operations. In accordance landowners. In more recent years, sprawl and a shift in the state’s Program. In 1993, with KFCA regulations, the division has taken on community population from rural to urban the National a master logger must and programs, timber areas created the need to practice Woodland Owners be on site and in charge harvesting inspections, forest health urban forestry. As a result, the Association of all commercial timber assessments and environmental division established a program to honored the harvests and they education. Our state is fortunate to provide technical assistance and division’s Forest must ensure that best have a forest resource that remains funding to address the importance Stewardship management practices productive and diverse, and with proper of urban trees for their social, Program as the are being used to reduce management, our forests will continue environmental and economic finest in the and prevent nonpoint to provide economic and environmental benefits. United States. source water pollution. benefits for hundreds of years to come.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 4 Promoting Forestry Conservation districts are located in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties. They Proper Fertilization assist landowners in developing conservation plans and provide technical This practice concerns minimizing impacts to water quality while applying assistance for best management practices that protect the soil and water specific chemicals to the soil to favor increased growth of vegetation. This resources. These practices are designed to reduce soil erosion and impact practice induces desirable vegetation to achieve maximum growth practices the amount of silt or contaminants that enter ponds, lakes and streams. for site conditions, while managing the fertilizer in such a way as to protect Common forestry best management practices are identified below. the quality of nearby water bodies. Proper fertilization is achieved by: • Using only the amount of fertilizer necessary. Revegetation • Staying away from bodies of water or land immediately next to them. Revegetation means establishing a vegetative cover to stabilize the soil • Avoid using fertilizer within 30 feet of sinkholes. and reduce damage to downstream areas from sediment and runoff that result from the harvest of trees. Revegatation is accomplished by sowing Streamside Management Zones grass on erodible or severely eroded areas, such as roads, skid Streamside management zones (SMZs) are buffer strips of a width trails, or log landings, as soon as possible. consisting of the existing native vegetation, including trees, both deciduous and evergreen, and shrubs along the stream area. SMZs serve many important functions, and are of special importance in controlling and filtering sediment from forestry operations, promoting and sustaining wildlife and fish populations, and maintaining water quality. The SMZ not only acts as a Fun Facts buffer between land activities and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, but it also Paper usually supports high diversity in animal and plant populations, valuable In the United States, paper makes up 29% of municipal solid , more habitat, and multiple recreational uses. than any other material Americans throw away. Benefits of paper include: • Saves landfill space Putting together an Envirothon Team • Extends fiber supply • Reduces energy and water consumption The Kentucky Association of Conservation District and the Kentucky • Contributes to Envirothon Committee offer the opportunity for high school students In 2007, the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) reported that to participate in the Envirothon. The Envirothon competition tests about 37% of the raw materials used at US paper mills was recovered paper. students’ knowledge on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current environmental issue. Paper recipe: pioneerthinking.com/crafts/crafts-basics/makingpaper.html Plans are being made for the 2013 Envirothon that will take place in Reclaimed timber the spring. For more information about Envirothon, visit Timber recycling is the process of turning waste timber into usable www.envirothon.org/ products. Recycled timber can come in two forms: Reclaimed or recycled or conservation.ky.gov/Pages/Envirothon.aspx and salvaged. Reclaimed or recycled timber is wood that has been previously used in construction and that is now being carefully dismantled . and prepared for . Salvaged wood has not been previously cut into or used for construction. Most of salvaged material is still in log form and was harvested many years ago. Both salvaged and reclaimed timber can be used in new construction of buildings, furniture and art. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 5 What is a Tree? A tree is a woody plant that’s usually more than 10-feet tall and has one main stem. Although trees come in different shapes and sizes, most have the same basic parts. Each of these parts, from the highest leaves in the crown to the tiny root hairs buried in the soil, plays an important role in the tree’s func- tion and survival.

The cambium is a layer or zone of cells, one cell thick, inside the The heartwood of the inner bark. The cambium produces both tree develops as the tree gets the xylem and phloem cells. This is where older. Its old sapwood that no longer diameter growth occurs and where rings carries sap gives the trunk support and inner bark are formed. and stiffness. In many kinds of trees, the heartwood is darker color than the sapwood, since its water- carrying tubes get clogged up. The crown of the tree is made up of The of the the leaves and trunk tree supports the crown and In the xylem (sapwood) branches. serves as a highway for food layer, tree sap (water plus nitrogen made in the leaves to travel and mineral nutrients) is carried back to the roots and for water and up from the roots to the leaves. Sapwood nutrients from the roots to travel gives a tree its strength. In the phloem to the leaves. (inner bark) layer, sugar that’s made in the leaves or needles is carried down to the branches, trunks and roots, where it’s converted into the food The roots of the tree (starch) the tree needs for growth. support the trunk and crown and also anchor the tree in the soil. They serve as a storage facility during the winter for the food produced by the leaves The bark layer during the growing season. The roots also protects the absorb water and nutrients from the soil for tree from insects and use by the tree. disease, excessive heat and cold and other injuries.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 6 Matching Leaves to Trees

The tulip poplar is the state tree Hickory wood is often used for of Kentucky. It is actually not smoking cured meats and for a member of the poplar cooking barbeque, as family – instead, it is a the burning of hickory member of the magnolia wood adds a pleasant family. flavor to the meat.

The USS Constitution, the The shells of black walnut have many uses world’s oldest commissioned including an abrasive agent for naval vessel still afloat, is jet engines, filler for dynamite, a filter made of white oak. It was agent in smoke-stacks, and a flour-like first launched in 1797! carrying agent for insecticides. The wood is highly prized for cabinets, furniture, musical instruments, paneling, gunstocks, and other fancy wood products.

The wood of the Elk and deer use the Eastern red cedar current season’s growth is used to make of red maple chests and repel as a source of moths in closets. winter food, Tool handles and baseball but the leaves bats are often made from can be toxic to green ash wood, horses. because the wood is known for being hard and strong.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 7 Tree Ring Timeline

Tree rings (growth rings or annual rings) can be seen in a horizontal cross section cut through the truck of a tree. In general, a tree is marked by a growth ring each year. Tree rings provide a timeline to the past! The inner rings are the oldest; the outer rings are the youngest.

1631 1960 Mayflower Hawaii 1944 Compact was becomes the Conservation established 50th state writing contest was established

1776 United States Declaration of Independence 1789 George Washington becomes first President of United States

1875 First Kentucky Derby is run at 1792 Churchill Downs Kentucky becomes 1861 the 15th 1804 state on Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and born in Kentucky, 1865 June 1 Clark begin becomes 16th University of their expedition President of United Kentucky founded across North States in Lexington America

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 8 Healthy& Streams Riparian Zones

The area of plant growth along streams is which in turn restore and protect the quality of our • Limit downstream flooding. known as the riparian zone. The word “riparian” streams. • Provide natural environment for recreation, comes from the Latin ripa for river bank. Riparian such as fishing, canoeing, hiking and bird areas, also called “buffers,” are strips of vegetation Native plants in the riparian zone have multiple watching. that include trees, bushes and other plants. jobs: These areas are attractive additions to residential • Help maintain cool water temperatures by Restoring riparian buffers neighborhoods and urban areas and provide providing shade. Buffers can take many forms and can be important habitat for wildlife. More importantly, • Provide habitat and a travel corridor for used in rural, suburban and urban areas alike. To these plants provide an important barrier between wildlife. be most effective, riparian areas should include the stream and anything that might flow into it, • Provide food resources for the aquatic native vegetation. Native plants require less including all kinds of pollution. ecosystem in the form of leaves, branches maintenance and are better suited to native birds, Unfortunately, some people destroy riparian and insects. butterflies and wildlife. Buffers should be as wide buffers unnecessarily through lack of knowledge. • Stabilize banks by rooting into soil. Roots as possible and as tall as the stream is wide. Real estate developers may clear plants for hold bank soil together and tree stems Creating a riparian zone does not have to be better views; road builders occasionally bury protect banks by deflecting the cutting expensive. Simply ignore your stream bank by buffers beneath highways; engineers sometimes action of waves, ice, boat wakes and creating a no-mow zone and see what happens. construct culverts, stream channels and retaining stormwater runoff. Birds, squirrels, wind, water and wandering roots walls over buffers; farmers might plow down to • Filter out chemicals and nutrients that run from nearby plants will find their way to your the stream bank; and homeowners and timber off from neighboring yards and landscapes. stream bank, delivering your future forest in the harvesters periodically clear trees right to the • Filter and stabilize sediment carried from form of seeds, nuts, berries and roots. You can water line. construction sites. also choose to help your riparian buffer along by Landowners, local governments, farmers, • Supply to the channel planting new native trees, bushes and grasses. conservation organizations and volunteers can to help maintain channel form and improve all help restore and protect the riparian buffers complexity of in-stream habitat. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 9 What’s Global Climate Change? Our world is always changing. Look out your window long enough and you might see the weather change. Look even longer and you'll see the seasons change. The Earth's climate is changing too, but in ways that you can't easily see. One of the reasons the Earth is getting warmer is because the burning of fossil fuels has added heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere – these gases are called greenhouse gases. They exist naturally in the atmosphere, where they help keep the Earth warm enough for plants and animals to live. As the world’s population has grown, many factors have contributed to the climate changes we are seeing around the world— on land, in the oceans and in the atmosphere – and these changes are affecting people, plants and animals in many ways. These changes are happening because the Earth's air, water and land are all linked to the climate. The Earth's climate has changed before, and will continue to change in the future. Finding ways to minimize our impact on the environment will be important for generations to come.

Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a certain place over many years. One of the most important trends that scientists look at is the average temperature of the Earth, which has been increasing for many years. Rising global temperatures leads to stronger hurricanes, melting glaciers, changing forest compositions and the loss of wildlife habitats. This means a change in one place can lead to other changes somewhere else. For example, when air temperatures rise, the oceans absorb more heat from the atmosphere and become warmer. Warmer oceans, in turn, can cause stronger storms. The diagram above shows how rising global temperatures can lead to a variety of other changes. These warming temperatures also allow more southerly plant species that would not normally live through our winters to grow and thrive here. One significant side effect to this is that the warmer temperatures optimize growing conditions for many exotic, invasive plant species. These plant species have Climate vs. Weather no natural controls, so once they get started they can fully take over a forest, often killing out any native plants. This can result in a • Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a place over many complete change in forest composition and, unlike some animals, years (usually at least 30 years). For example, the climate in Minneapolis trees can’t just get up and move when the temperature gets too hot is cold and snowy in the winter, while Miami's climate is hot and humid. or other conditions change! The average climate around the world is called global climate.

• Weather is a specific event or condition that happens over a period of hours or days. For example, a thunderstorm, a snowstorm, and today's temperature all describe the weather. In Kentucky, Here's an easy way to remember the difference between weather and climate: most plants and animals live in areas with very specific climate Climate helps you decide what clothes to buy and weather helps you decide conditions, such as temperature and rainfall patterns that enable them what clothes to wear each day. to thrive. Any change in the climate can affect the plants and animals living there, as well as the makeup of the entire ecosystem. It alters the life cycles of the plants causing many to grow and bloom earlier; disrupting pollination cycle and fruit production.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 10 Swamps of Kentucky

Does Kentucky have swamps? Many folks would say no, but they’d be wrong! Swamps are simply forested wetlands. These areas provide critical ecosystem services including carbon storage, fish breeding areas, flood control, water purification and wildlife habitat. Even though over 80% of wetlands in Kentucky have been filled in over the years, some swamps still survive. In Kentucky, forested wetlands are composed mainly of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and swamp tupelo (Nyssa aquatic). Swamps such as these are generally found in the far southwest portions of the Commonwealth. However, wetland areas can be found all over the state. You can see if your county has any wetlands by viewing a county map at ukcc.uky.edu/maps and looking for wetlands symbols. These areas host many important species of fish and other animals, like beavers, turtles and bald eagles. Get out and see some of these critters and their habitat by visiting a Kentucky swamp near you!

In Your Own Backyard Tupelo swamp near Paducah, KY

Can you grow a forest in your backyard? Few of us have the ability to Here’s what you might expect to see visiting some common native plants: grow more than a few trees, shrubs or wildflowers in our backyard, so it is • Tulip tree – bees, hummingbirds, fritillary butterfly caterpillars, especially important to choose wisely when selecting what to plant. Most songbirds importantly, if you want to attract wildlife, plant natives because that’s what • Elderberry, wild cherry and mulberry – orioles, mockingbirds, small Kentucky’s wildlife needs for good nutrition and good cover. mammals, turtles, ants • Trees with natural cavities or loose bark – amphibians, flying Some other things to consider: squirrels, chickadees, bluebirds, barn swallows, bats • A diversity of plants provides a diversity of foods (nectar, seeds, • Fallen logs and wood piles – wrens, raccoons, foxes, amphibians, berries, nuts, leaves) and attracts a greater diversity of wildlife. box turtles and other reptiles, insects • Native perennials provide consistent food and shelter year after year. • Wildflowers – butterflies, moths, bees, birds, small mammals • Build on existing habitat. For example, in shade create a forest or woodland habitat garden; in the sun, a prairie or glade habitat garden; Keep a record of what visits and when. If you don’t get visits, then and in wet areas, a wetland or water garden. research the species you want to attract and make a plan for their habitat • To accommodate changes in our climate, choose plants suitable for requirements. your current vegetative zone rather than relying on old information concerning what can grow. • Wildlife needs clean water just like you do. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 11 What is ?

Agroforestry is a way of making production on a farm more sustainable. Most farmers grow crops that are planted and harvested in one growing season, like corn and soybeans. By planting trees on their farms, farmers could have additional crops such as fruit or nuts. The crop could be produced every year without replanting but could also keep the soil from eroding and add leaves to enrich the soil. There are five agroforestry practices. There are four practices that require planting by the farmers in areas where trees do not currently grow and the other is a way for farmers to manage their forests in order to produce an annual crop.

Alley Cropping Windbreaks Alley cropping is the technique In western Kentucky, the land of planting trees so that other crops is flatter and strong winds can grow in between the rows. Often can come from the west or the trees used in alley cropping are nut Riparian buffer strips south, damaging the crops. Riparian buffer strips are built near streams and producers such as black walnut or pecan Windbreaks are rows of trees trees, but fruit and conifer trees could also designed to protect the water of the streams from planted in a way to slow fertilizer and pesticide runoff as well as keeping the be used. In the alley between the trees, down much of the wind. The waters cool. The riparian area should be composed certain crops and forages can be grown. windbreaks need to be planted of the three types of plants separated into rows. As the trees grow, the type of crop so that the wind is broken at all The first section, closest to the stream, is made up may have to be changed due to the times of the year, so conifers of trees that are used to being near water, such as increase of shade. or evergreens are necessary. willows, sycamores and birches. The second section The next row should be should be shrubs, such as dogwood or berry bushes. deciduous trees that grow The third section should be native grasses such as more quickly. The last row prairie grass, eastern gamagrass and little and big Silvopasture should be shrubs providing bluestem. All sections should be equal in width and Foresters do not like having cattle or other animals leaves and branches closer no trees from the first section should be cut. running in the forests, but this practice is designed to the ground. Windbreaks to mix trees and livestock. Silvopasture is a way should be between 3-5 rows. The rows should be planted to get three products from one area: the trees, the so there are no holes in grass and the animals. The relationship between This type of agroforestry deals with a the middle for wind to pass the three products creates an ideal atmosphere: forest that is already present. Farmers can grow through and should also be crops that can be harvested every year, like hen of the trees provide shade for the animals and tall enough to get the most protect the soil from erosion and the animals benefit over the land. The the , shiitake, and morels. Medicinal plants can provide fertilizer for the trees and grass. The trees should not be so tight also be grown, such as ginseng, goldenseal and black farmer will need to protect any newly planted trees that they block the wind, but cohosh, which are all native to Kentucky. Other types from the animals. Many different tree and animal should slow the wind. of forest farming include bee hives, arts and crafts combinations can be used. from broken limbs and maple syrup.

2012 Kentucky’s Forests 12 Forestry Related Careers

If you’re looking for a challenging career that positively impacts Planet Earth daily; requires flexibility, creativity and a sense of humor; allows you to thrive on diversity because every day is a new adventure; is both physically and mentally demanding with work indoors and outdoors, with people and nature, creat- ing environments where people can relax; is a fun job that asks and answers “what if?” questions and finds solutions; and lets you keep growing and learning in an emerging industry, then check out these careers or contact the Kentucky Division of Forestry at www.forestry.ky.gov .

Accountant Appraiser Consulting Forest Geneticist Broker Christmas Tree Farmer

Community Educator

Cooperative Extension Specialist Environmental Consultant/Ecologist School Teacher Executive Director

Forest Pathologist/Entomologist Fund Raiser/Resource Developer

GIS Professional/Technician Grant Administrator Grant Writer Groundskeeper Landscaper Lawyer

Lobbyist Lumber Harvester Nature Photographer Nursery Owner/Manager Park P lanner

Park Supervisor Professor Research Scientist Salesperson Silviculturist Social Forester (Naturalist)

Soil Scientist Agroforester

Transportation Engineer Tree Nursery Grower Tree Service Urban Forester Urban Planner

Utility Arborist/Forester Wildland Fire Wildland Restoration Specialist 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 13 Kentucky’s Forests

2012 Conservation Writing and Jim Claypool Art Contests The 2012 Conservation Writing Contest is designed for 7. The top three writing entries and/or artworks from you school The Division of Conservation acknowledges and thanks the following Kentucky students grades 6-12, and the Jim Claypool must be submitted to your local county conservation district by organizations and agencies for their support: December 1, 2012. Conservation Art Contest is for students 1-5. Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation; Kentucky Association of 8. The official entry form must be completed and secured to the back Conservation Districts; Division of Forestry; Energy and Environment State Winners of your entry. Cabinet; Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Division of First - $250 check; Second - $150 check; Third - $50 check Water; Department of Education; United States Natural Resources POINT SYSTEM FOR WRITING Conservation Service Regional Winners • 20 points - Purpose/Audience (establishes and maintains a purpose, $50 check communicates with audience, employs a suitable voice and/or tone) County Level Winners • 20 points - Organization (logical order, coherence, transition $25 check organizational signals) Kentucky’s Forests * State and Regional winners will receive a personalized plaque and certificate. County winners that win regional or state awards will only receive one check • 30 points - Idea Development/Support (degree to which writer for the top prize. provides thoughtful, detailed support to develop main idea(s) including evidence of research), Factual Accuracy RULES 2012 Contest Entry Form 1. All Kentucky students grades 6-12 are eligible to compete in the • 30 points - Correctness (spelling, punctuation, capitalization), writing contest. Only students through grade 5 may compete in the Language (word choice, usage), Sentences (varied in structure and Name (Miss, Mr) ______art contest. Previous winners of the first-place state awards are not length, constructed effectively, complete and correct), eligible to enter that same contest. POINT SYSTEM FOR ARTWORK Home Address ______2. A student may not enter both the Jim Claypool Conservation • 50 points - Purpose/Audience (appropriate communication style Art Contest and the Conservation Writing Contest during the same to reach audience, establishes and maintains a purpose, holds to City ______Zip ______contest. subject in community) Home Phone ( ) ______3. An entry must be created by one and only one student. Any entry • 25 points - Theme clearly conveyed at a glance submitted by more than one student will be disqualified. • 25 points - Language/Correctness (word choice, usage, spelling, Age ______Grade ____ Teacher ______4. All entries become the property of the contest sponsors. The punctuation, capitalization) decisions of the judges at all levels of competition are final. HELPFUL HINTS County ______5. WRITING: entry may not exceed 1,000 words and must be written • Keep entry simple and sincere. in ink or typed on one side of paper only. No photographs or artwork School ______• Be creative and original. Avoid plagiarism by using original words may be included with the written work. It is suggested that the written and ideas. Plagiarism is defined as the act of stealing and passing entry take the form of transactive writing (from the perspective of an off the words of another as your own without crediting the source. School Address ______informed writer to a less informed reader) and may be in the form of a letter, feature article, editorial or speech. It should persuade the • Consider an area of forestry that is important to you, your family City ______Zip ______reader to take action toward good forest practices. The work should and your community. be from the student author and avoid plagiarism from this source or School Phone ( ) ______other sources. Sources should be cited. • Draw from your personal interests or experiences. 6. ARTWORK: shall be 9”x12”. Any thickness or color of art board • Writing entry should take the form of transactive. I hereby certify that I have read the rules and helpful hints and this entry is the original work of: may be used. Art paper may be used, but must be pasted onto art • Think about forestry issues in your community, be it farm, board or cardboard before submitting for competition. NO will subdivision or city block. ______be accepted. Artwork may be rendered in any medium: pencil, ink, Student Signature , crayon, oil, etc., but it must be flat art. 3-D art is unacceptable; • DO NOT use the “Kentucky’s Forests: Branching Out” document however, collages, photographs or other art pasted onto your as your only source. ______board will be accepted as long as it is flat art pasted securely to the Parent/Guardian Signature (required) • Interview people in your community about changes in forestry poster board. An art entry may take the form of a poster, newspaper issues. ______advertisement or editorial cartoon, making sure that whatever form is Teacher or Principal’s Signature (required) used the artwork conveys a message at a glance that persuades its • Find ways to conserve and improve forestry habitat in your viewers to take action toward good forestry practices. community. TAKE ACTION!