Lamb County Soil and Water Conservation District has announced the winners of its 2026 Senior Scholarship competition, which asks local students to research and write essays on agricultural issues affecting their region.
This year’s theme was “The Lifeline Beneath Our Feet: Why Water Determines Agriculture’s Future,” focused on water availability and its impact on long-term agricultural production in Lamb County.
Brenda May, the district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Lamb County, is an avid supporter of the program and has been with the NRCS for 15 years, including 4 years in Lamb County.
“ The purpose of the scholarship essay is for the Lamb County Stormwater Conservation District to support the seniors of our county at the same time,” said May, adding that the topics are selected each year based on issues affecting the county, especially water and groundwater levels.
The essay topic this year was chosen to reflect ongoing concerns in Lamb County regarding growing water availability problems, which, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), are experiencing their driest year to date. In addition, the topic aims to highlight the direct impact these conditions have on agriculture, particularly as groundwater levels continue to decline across the area.
The goal of the assignment is to connect students with real issues affecting local farmers and producers, giving them a better understanding of how natural resources can shape the county’s economy and future.
“ Of course, our land county issues are the overall aquifer and the rate of how low it’s becoming, and so we want students to have a better awareness of what’s going on in their counties based on current events, as far as agriculture goes,” said May.
The competition is offered to five high schools across Lamb County, including Olton High School, Littlefield High School, Sudan High School, Springlake-Earth High School, and Amherst High School, with eligibility requiring participating seniors to maintain at least a B average during the competition.
Students participating in the contest were required to submit an essay that included sufficient supporting research and citations, with a minimum of 500 words. Each senior was responsible for completing the essay individually, requiring them to conduct research, analyze sources, and connect their findings to current issues affecting agriculture in the region.
First place for the competition, along with a $ 1,000 scholarship, was awarded to Aabriella Villanueva of Springlake-Earth. Second place and a $600 scholarship went to Kooper Edwards of Sudan, and Third place with a $ 300 scholarship was awarded to Makinzi Tyler of Littlefield.
The annual competition continues to highlight water conservation while encouraging students to think critically about the agricultural challenges facing their communities.