i CONSERVATION AND THE "JET SET" 



by 



Eldon E. Rice 

 County Extension Agent, Rosebud-Treasure Counties 



Last year on Arbor Day the Treasure County SWCD sponsored a field day for the sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth grade students In Treasure County. Adults were also invited. The theme 

 was "The Need for Conservation." Many, many conservation practices have already been used and 

 have paid off in Treasure County. So, we may have better called our emphasis that day, "The 

 Need For Continuing Conservation." Resource people were called in and we discussed topics en 

 land leveling, range management, strip-cropping, concrete ditch lining, wildlife resources, 

 soil profile, water diversion, and irrigation diversion systems. We also discussed the cost- 

 sharing concept under ACP. Those two busloads of kids had lots of questions. It gave me a 

 shot in the arm to observe the enthusiasm in these young people. Plans are to make this an 

 annual even in Treasure County as long as the Supervisors wish to sponsor It. Rosebud County 

 SWCD Supervisors have such an educational venture in mind for 1969. 



Give these young people a chance to learn about conservation and they will feel better 

 toward the many resources they have available. I think we are missing the boat if we fall 

 to tell our young people, or the "jet set", what great resources we have and the need to 

 conserve them. 



I only hope we could start much sooner than the sixth grade in telling students about 

 conservation. Long, dusty rides in school buses are not a criterion for getting a good Job 

 done. Aa Dr. Clark pointed out at the Annual Meeting in Sidney, do it in the classroom or 

 on the front step of the schoolhouse. Being sensitive and/or having an appreciation of 



•everything around us is symbolic of Just growing up. Many people fall to grow up because 

 ^o much around them is taken for granted. But, believe me, when the opportunity is there 

 for these young people to see and touch, and participate through discussion, our basic re- 

 sources of water, soil, plants and animals, an awareness is created that lasts for a long 

 tine. 



We are in an environmental revolution. People are becomln;^ sensitive to the fact that 

 someday we may run out of productive land. What's going to happen to some of these things 

 we now enjoy? What generation will suffer the most? Who is going to pay the bill for re- 

 storing some areas back to normal? Already they are saying that costs may be prohibitive in 

 controlling pollution. 



Answers to these questions are forthcoming, but not until some attitudes are changed. 

 Our resource of young people can help solve some problems we have today. Attitudes are 

 shaped at sone pretty early stages of our lives. There are many ways of helping all people 

 become aware of the task of conservation and the role they have in this task. Use your 

 resources In Conservation Education. (This article sponsored by MASWCD Ladles Auxiliary, 

 Mrs. Dean A. Hanson, President.) 



********** 



Winner of the Distinguished Service 

 Award of the National Association of 

 State Foresters is >frs. Oscar Hlppe 

 of Frold, Past President of the NACD 

 Ladies Auxlllarv and long active in 

 MASWCD Activities. 



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