MAYVILLE — The Chautauqua County Sports Fishery Advisory Board has announced its 27th Annual Fishing Essay Contest for students in Chautauqua County. The contest officially opened on March 12 and all entries must be submitted by April 12.

Last year 320 students from 12 different schools participated in the contest and the Sports Fishery Advisory Board is eager to see how many students will participate this year.

The contest is open to all Chautauqua County students in third through sixth grade who attend public, private or home schools. Essays must follow this year’s topic, “What can you and your classmates do to help preserve our rivers, lakes, and ponds for fishing and enjoying nature?”

Entries must be 250 words or less and can be submitted singly or together by class. Each entry must include the student’s name, grade, teacher, and school. Teachers are also encouraged to submit their email addresses with their students’ essays to allow for quick and easy communication during the school day about contest results. Entries will be judged on originality and teachers are encouraged to work with students by incorporating the essay into a teaching activity.

“In the past we have received some very creative entries such as essays with drawings and pictures, and one year we even received an essay inside of a shoebox,” said Zen Olow, Chairman of the Sports Fishery Advisory Board. “It is great to see kids excited about fishing and the outdoors.”

All entries must be submitted to: Chautauqua County Sports Fishery Advisory Board, Office of the County Executive, Gerace Office Building, 3 North Erie Street, Mayville, NY 14757

All participants will receive a certificate and at least eight winners from each grade will receive a spin cast fishing pole kit. Among the winners, two grand prize winners will be selected to go on a fishing trip with Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello this summer. Winners will be announced in early May and the two grand prize winners will be recognized at the May 22, 2019 Chautauqua County Legislature Meeting. All teachers and principals whose students submit essays will also receive a gift made by Kids on the Fly.

“Protecting our lakes and waterways to preserve our fishing and summer tourism industries has always been a big priority for me, so I am particularly excited about this year’s topic,” said Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello. The Sports Fishery Advisory Board hopes the essay contest can be an interesting educational experience for students and helpful to teachers. It is intended to promote an awareness of Chautauqua County’s ecology, the factors that affect it, and the role each student plays in maintaining its quality in the future.

The contest is sponsored by the County Executive’s Office, County Legislature, and a majority of the prizes are funded through donations from the community and sportsmen’s clubs.

For more information, please contact the County Executive’s Office at 753-4211 or Zen Olow at 640-2776.