W.A.C.K.Y. DAY 2024

Wildlife, Agriculture, Conservation, Knowledge for Youth Day, better known as WACKY DAY, is an event for all area 6^th grader students held annually at Kirwin Reservoir’s Camp Hansen by the Kansas Natural Resource Foundation (KNRF). KNRF is made up of the conservation districts from Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rooks and Smith counties. This year’s event was held on Wednesday, September 25^th with 315 students attending from twelve area schools. This schools that took part were Hill City, Logan, Natoma, Northern Valley, Norton, Osborne, Palco, Phillipsburg, Plainville, Smith Center, Stockton and Thunder Ridge.

Upon arrival the students were divided into 16 groups and each group was assigned a volunteer group guide. Each group was able to attend 7 of the 16 fundamental conversation practice presentations that were held throughout the day. The presentations included: AR (Augmented Reality) Sandbox, Pollinator, There’s Cow in My Marshmallow, Wildlife, Fish, Soils, Worms, WACKY Jeopardy, Rangeland Discovery, Surveying, Rain Simulator, Stream Trailer, ATV Safety, Enviroscape, Fur Harvester and Forestry. At lunchtime the groups merged into four sessions that rotated between the WACKY Day carnival, a special presentation by a KDWPT scent dog, the Boy Scouts presentation and lunch.

WACKY Day is funded entirely by grants and sponsor donations. Because of these generous Phillips county sponsors each child was given a WACKY Day t-shirt, a backpack, a water bottle and a free lunch: Garrett Insurance Agency, Cliff’s Welding Service, Mid-America Real Estate, Pioneer Hotel Investors LLC dba Rodeway Inn & Suites, Kiser Ag Service LLC, Ronald J. Juenemann O.D. P.A., Farmers State Bank, Coomes Inc, Sawyer’s Ace Hardware, Amber Wave, Dana Grammon American Family Insurance, Trinity Ag LLC, Black Dog Veterinary Service and First National Bank & Trust.

The Phillips County Conservation District would like to give a special thank you to these Phillips county representatives who assisted with WACKY Day: Cody Miller - KSTATE Agricultural & Natural Resources 4H/Youth Development Agent, Bailey Miller - Farm Service Agency County Executive Director, and Cindy Walker - KSTATE Family Community Wellness 4H/Youth Development Agent.

For information about WACKY Day 2025, please contact the Phillips County Conservation Office, 1717 Highway 183, Phillipsburg KS 67661.