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The Baxter County Conservation District is offering a $500 scholarship for local high school students pursuing conservation-related studies, part of the organization’s broader mission to address soil and water conservation needs throughout the county.
The scholarship contest is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who are Baxter County residents with a minimum 2.5 grade point average and plan to follow a conservation-related course of study.
“We’re investing in students who share our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Dawn Downing-Wahl, district representative. “This scholarship represents just one aspect of our work to promote sustainable land management in our community.”
The Conservation District, which functions as the county’s central authority for soil and water conservation similar to how school districts oversee education, offers numerous programs beyond educational initiatives. These include services addressing water erosion control, soil conservation, wildlife habitat establishment, forest land management and wetland restoration.
Working closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the district provides both technical assistance and financial incentives to landowners engaged in conservation activities. The NRCS contributes expertise through conservation planners, technicians and specialists who offer guidance on proper soil usage, soil analysis and plant selection.
“Our partnership with NRCS allows us to coordinate a unified conservation program aimed at solving local soil and water problems,” Downing-Wahl said. “The scholarship program helps us develop the next generation of conservation-minded professionals.”
Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2025. Entry forms and contest rules are available from high school counselors, 4-H leaders, FBLA sponsors, FFA sponsors, scout leaders and county extension agents. Materials can also be obtained at the Baxter County Library and the Cooperative Extension Service Office.
Completed applications may be submitted to the district office at 406 W. Wade Avenue, Suite 2, in Mountain Home, or by email to [email protected].
The conservation district is overseen by a board of directors including Mark Keaton, chairman; Sherrie Bufford, secretary/treasurer; Mel Crawford; Sally Hall; and Robert Benedict.
For additional information about the scholarship or other conservation programs, interested residents may contact the district office at 870-425-3527, extension 3.
Christopher Fulton is an award-winning investigative journalist and U.S. Navy veteran living in Arkansas. Fulton graduated from the University of Memphis in 2020 summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. After seeing a void in Mountain Home’s local news market, he founded the Mountain Home Observer and currently serves as the online newspaper’s publisher and news reporter.
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