Cash Prizes were awarded to Grayson High School students in the 2016 Grayson LandCare Land Stewardship Competition on Saturday April 23rd, at the 1908 Courthouse in Independence.
- 8th grader Mary Ellen Wingate was awarded the $1000 first prize for her project “Recycle & Redesign: Doggone Tired”
- Kyndra Brewer and Ashley Weimann, 11th and 12th graders, were awarded the $500 second prize for their project “Organic Baby Food”
- 11th graders Natalie Wright and Tori Graybeal won the $250 3rd prize for their project “Edible and Organic Floristry”
- 11th graders Taylor Blevins, Makenna Phipps, and Sierra Sealing won the $150 fourth prize fortheir project “Solar Panels for Grayson County High School”
Grayson LandCare hosted the Competition, which resembles a science fair, and encourages local students to explore real economic, environmental, and social problems facing Grayson County and suggest innovative solutions that can really work here. Contestants are invited to think creatively about how we can be good stewards of our land and still meet the triple bottom line of sustainability―being economically successful, protecting our environment, and promoting community involvement and well-being.
Mary Ellen Wingate’s winning project “Recycle & Redesign: Doggone Tired,” turned a waste stream (used tires) into a comfortable and durable pet bed. Wingate interviewed Grayson Public Works Director Jonathan Luper and found out that in 2015 the county picked up over 5,000 used tires, and they all ended up in the landfill. The cost average yearly cost for disposing the tires in Grayson County alone isover $10,000. She was excited by the idea of diverting them into a useful project. Her presentation included a list of all of the materials used in the project and a step-by-step photo storyboard of the process she used to build the pet bed.
Kyndra Brewer and Ashley Weimann’s project “Organic Baby Food” created baby food that met two objectives: affordable and organic. They want to work with local farmers to grow the fruits and vegetables organically so that the product can be local as well as affordable and nutritious.
Natalie Wright and Tori Graybeal’s project “Edible and Organic Floristry” created beautiful organic fruit arrangements to be used as a healthy alternative to flowers. Taylor Blevins, Makenna Phipps, and Sierra Sealing’s project “Solar Panels for Grayson County High School” explored adding solar panels to the school in an effort to improve Grayson County.
Grayson LandCare would like to congratulate all of the students who presented projects at the competition for their outstanding work exploring innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Mary Ellen Wingate’s winning project “Doggone Tired” turned used tires into attractive, comfortable, and durable pet beds
Kyndra Brewer and Ashley Weimann’s project “Organic Baby Food” provides nutritious foods at an affordable price
Natalie Wright and Tori Graybeal’s project “Edible and Organic Floristry” offered organic fruit arrangements delivered to your door
Taylor Blevins, Makenna Phipps, and Sierra Sealing’s project “Solar Panels for Grayson County High School” added alternative energy to improve the high school.