The Conservation Commission has announced this year’s honoree of the Conservation Leadership Award. This award is given to a Newtown student chosen for his/her dedication to environmental issues such as protecting natural resources and wildlife.

The 2021 Conservation Leadership Award goes to high school senior Ella Schmitt for her educational poster entitled “60 Harvests Left,” which illustrates the need for healthy and sustainable agriculture. Topics covered include: avoiding genetically-modified foods, pesticide-free produce, grass-fed beef raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, pasture-raised chicken, supporting local farmers markets, as well as gardening using regenerative practices for less soil disturbance and utilizing compost to enrich the soil.

Ella was chosen as this year’s honoree at the September 28 Conservation Commission meeting. Ella was presented with a Conservation Leadership Certificate on October 21 at the Newtown Municipal Center by commission Chair Holly Kocet. Ella’s inspiring poster is on display at the municipal center, just outside the Planning and Zoning Department.

The Conservation Commission knows there are other students who are helping to make a difference and they would like to recognize these individuals for their efforts. Commission members look forward to hearing from students of all ages in the coming year and learning about their projects that help protect the environment, whether it be cleaning debris from roadsides and streams, recycling, planting a pollinator garden, or writing about issues that affect people and threatened wildlife. For more information about the Conservation Leadership Award, contact dawn.fried@newtown-ct.gov.

For additional information, contact the Newtown Conservation Commission at newtownconservation.org.