In 1955, the National association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship.  Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world’s largest conservation-related observances.
The program relied on locally-led conservation districts sharing and promoting stewardship and conservation activities. Districts provide conservation and stewardship field days, programs, workships and additional outreach efforts throughout their community to educate citizens about the need to care for our resources. Many district activities extend beyond the one week observance to include an entire year of outreach.
The Stewardship concept involves personal and social responsibility, including a duty to learn about and improve natural resources as we use them wisely, leaving a rich legacy for future generations.
One definition of Stewardship is “individual’s responsibility to manage his life and property with proper regard to the rights of others.”  E. William Anderson suggests stewardship “is essentially a synonym for conservation.”
Stewardship Week helps to remind us all of the power each person has to conserve natural resources and improve the world. The Barton County Conservation District is involved with helping to sponsor and donate time at Kid’s Ag. Day in September. The district donated funds to help build the Soil Trailer of Western Kansas which debuted at the Great Bend Farm and Ranch Show this past April. The District Manager is involved with demonstrating the Soils Trailer at local educational functions. Soil Stewardship material was available through the district to local participating churches and schools.
A poster contest was offered to third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade students in Barton County. This year’s theme “Where does your Watershed?”. Winners were recognized at the Barton County Conservation Districts Annual Meeting Jan. 19th.
Our actions, habits and decisions impact the watersheds we live in. You can define a watershed as, “All of the water under or draining off of a particular watershed goes into the same place.” There are 2,100 watersheds in the continental U.S. To learn more about your watershed visit www.epa.gov/mywaterway. Additional natural resource education materials can be found at: www.nacdnet.org/education/resources/. Or visit the Barton County Conservation District at 1520 Kansas Ave., Great Bend.