LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Conservation District held a pumpkin decorating contest for local students.

On Monday, Nov. 8, a ceremony was held outside of the Piper Building to announce the winners.

The Children and Youth mentoring program, Reaching Our Maximum Potentials (ROMP), worked with the conservation district to help teach students how to garden and harvest their own pumpkins.

Once the harvest was over, each participating student decorated their own individual pumpkins.

"This was a fun thing to do. To have kids working in the soil and tending a garden. This is the culmination of a summer's worth of work from the kids," said Wade Jodun, District Manager of The Clinton County Conservation District.

Every child who participated received a certificate, along with a $25 gift card.

The county commissioners, Clinton County Court System and the Clinton County Conservation District all voted on their favorite pumpkins.

"I think that it is imperative that county agencies and county entities such as children and youth and conservation district partner because that's how we're going to be successful. Kids having the opportunity to grow the pumpkins - To be creative to decorate their pumpkins. It was a great all around opportunity for county departments and kids in the community," said Angela Harding, Clinton County Commissioner.

In addition, there was a Facebook contest on the Conservation District Facebook for a Public Choice Award.

Those four winners received a pumpkin pie from Simone's Bakery.

"I look at everything the conservation district does as an investment. This is an investment in the kids and in Clinton County Youth. Each time we reach out to the public, that just makes our job easier. They have a positive image and positive memory (now) from the District," said Jodun.

Around 50 pumpkins ended up being harvested at the conservation district's vegetable garden.

The garden began this year as a way to provide fresh, local vegetables to the community. All proceeds of the vegetable garden went to the Clinton County United Way.