The Year of Pollinators - 2015
2015 was a year to focus on pollinators nationwide and Ripley County was no different. On June 11, 2015 the Ripley County SWCD partnered with the Central Muscatatuck Water to hold a Pollinator Workshop at the Sunman Fish and Game Club in Sunman, IN. This workshop focused on the importance of pollinators and pollinator habitat. The evening included a visit from the Indiana Bee Keepers Association and their bee hive display. The workshop drew of crowd of 53 people and was very successful.
Each year the National Association of Conservation Districts provides local SWCDs with education guides and themes for the poster contest. In 2015, students were asked to create posters for the title “Local Heroes - You’re Hardworking Pollinators.” All schools in Ripley County were invited to participate and over 350 posters were submitted. There are 5 age brackets with 3 winners from each. The overall winner was Lauren Nuku from Jac Cen Del. Congratulations to all the winners in each division.
At the Ripley County Fair the 2015 theme followed the poster contest theme praising our local heroes, the pollinators. The main display was accented with butterfly weed and other perennials that encourage pollinator habitat. One night of the fair we were lucky enough to have the bee hive from the Indiana Bee Keepers Association for individuals to view.