Three Rivers SWCD sponsored two Wildlife Food Plot competitions this year for local students. The Junior Division was for students 9 to 12 years of age and the Senior Division for students 13 to 18 years of age. Each division is awarded a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner. The program is not only used to attract wildlife but to provide an opportunity for the students to learn about conservation and wildlife while helping them to develop an appreciation for the world around them. Applications were submitted by September 30 and the plots were judged on seed production, variety of seeds used, location of plot and bonus points were given for evidence of wildlife using the plots. For the Junior Division we had one entry from Hamilton Holmes Middle School, Tucker Townsend. Tucker planted turnips and used a rotor tiller to prepare his seed bed, then broadcasted his seed with a walk spreader. His plot had good uniform cover and was close to the woods for security. Evidence of deer and rabbits using his plot were found. Tucker Townsend won 1^st place in the Junior Division.

In the Senior Division, we had four entries from King William High School Ag Production Technology, Horticultural Science and FFA Classes. Ashlee Powell, Trenton and Wylie Johnson, Patrick Upshaw and Kaleb Jimmo. All four participants planted soybeans, buckwheat, rape, ryegrass, cowpea, sorghum and crimson clover. Ashlee prepared her plot by bush hogging and then disking. She broadcasted her seed by hand and ran a cultipacker over it. Her plot had good uniform cover and was close to the woods for security. Evidence of quail and deer using her plot were found. Trenton and Wylie prepared their plot by chisel plowing and then turbo tilling. Their plot had uniform cover and was close to the woods for security. Evidence of deer using the plot was found. Patrick prepared his plot by bush hogging and tilling with a box tiller. He planted the seed with a seed spreader pulled by a 4-wheeler and then lightly tilled over it. He had good uniform cover and was close to the woods for security. Evidence of deer using his plot were found. Kaleb prepared his plot by bush hogging and then tilled with a box tiller. He broadcasted his seed by hand and then covered the seeds with a harrow. Evidence of deer was found. This year’s winners of the Senior Division are 3rd place Kaleb Jimmo, 2nd place Trenton and Wylie Johnson and 1st place Ashlee Powell and Patrick Upshaw.