2026 CDI Conservation Poster Contest

The theme for the 2026 CDI Conservation Poster Contest is here: “Soil. Where it all begins.” This theme celebrates the incredible power of soil to support life in all its forms. Students all over Iowa are diving into the vital resource right under their feet. They are learning how soil supports our food, natural habitats, and communities, and what that means to them through their own creations.

We would like to thank and announce our new sponsor for the 2026 CDI Conservation Poster Contest: Green Cover Seed. As the presenting sponsor of this contest, Green Cover Seed will help to support the prizes awarded to regional and state-winning posters for the 2026 contest.

“At Green Cover Seed, our mission is to help people regenerate, steward and share God’s creation for future generations,” said Green Cover Co-Owner Keith Berns. “ And we believe that work begins with teaching the next generation to see the soil beneath their feet as something work caring for. We’re honored to invest in these students, because faithful stewards pour into those who will carry the work forward.”

Thank you, Green Cover Seed! 

What is the CDI Conservation Poster Contest? 

The CDI Conservation Poster Contest is offered in conjunction with the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) Conservation Poster Contest and is available to any child in K-12th grades who resides in Iowa. The NACD Stewardship and Education Committee has developed a five-year rotation for stewardship topics – water, soil, habitat, forestry, and a topic of interest – and determines the theme each year.

The contest starts at the district level: winners advance to the regional level, and then to the state level. All state-winning posters are submitted to the NACD Conservation Poster Contest with the chance for the student’s art to be displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative and recognized at NACD’s annual meeting. Each year, the winning posters highlight the work of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries, and agencies in protecting and enhancing natural resources. This event is a way to involve our youth in conservation outreach initiatives while giving them an opportunity to learn and express their creativity at the same time.

How to participate: 

The contest is open to any child in K-12th grade – private, public, or homeschooled – who resides in Iowa. Before submitting a poster, please look over the 2026 poster contest rules for more information on poster submission requirements, deadlines, and other contest details. When submitting a poster to your local SWCD office, make sure to also submit a 2026 poster contest entry form. All documents can be found below ↓

2026-Poster-Contest-Rules

2026-Poster-Contest-Entry-Form

**Districts are no longer accepting local poster submissions for the 2026 CDI Conservation Poster Contest.**

For any questions about the CDI Conservation Poster Contest, please contact CDI Program Coordinator, Regan Davis.

For any questions about the NACD Conservation Poster Contest, please contact stewardship@nacdnet.org.

Congratulations to all our past 2025 CDI Conservation Poster Contest Winners!

Theme: “Home is Where the Habitat Is”