WRAL-TV’s Elizabeth Gardner (l to r) presents the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District’s Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award to Amber Nimocks, Belinda Ellis and Managing Editor Fred Thompson for their edible Piedmont  magazine that connects local food consumers to their local and regional farmers and farm products. Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Bill Cole and Wake County Commissioner Joe Bryan congratulated the award recipients.

Over 170 people gathered at the 44th Annual Conservation Awards Banquet of the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District to celebrate the conservation achievements of individuals, businesses and nonprofits. WRAL’s Elizabeth Gardner presented the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District’s Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award.

Zachary Cokas, a fifth grader at Wakefield Elementary School, receives 1st prize for his “Living Soil” poster from WRAL’s Elizabeth Gardner, Frank Franciosi, Manager, of Novozymes GREEN-RELEAF Composting, Donnie Woodlief, Chair of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District and Tony Gurley, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

The Wake Soil and Water  Conservation District created the award in honor of Dan Wilkinson, WRAL’s Farm Reporter who passed away suddenly in October of 2003.

Elizabeth Gardner also presented awards to ten fifth graders for “The Living Soil”posters they created that illustrate the living ecosystem within the soil and how to best care for it.

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams for this capcom story.