Watershed festival a splashing success...

The first ever Watershed Festival was held at the Butler City park today and provided not only a message about the importance of water conservation, but a few laughs and a little magic as well. Steve Craig and Amy Short of Nixa, Mo. wowed the crowd with slight of hand while sharing assorted tidbits of information about keeping our natural water supplies clean and safe.

Lots of good reading about the importance of
water conservation

An awestruck crowd

A knot mysteriously slid down the rope as a 
message was given about the importance of 
oxygenated water

Magician Steve Craig provided plenty of laughs in
an entertaining program for children and adults
as well

In addition to the show youngsters enjoyed the inflatable water slide, slip ’n’ slide, face painting, water games, stream trailer, Enviroscape demonstrations and more at the event organized by the Osage Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.


The efforts of budding Bates County artists was also on display with “Be a Solution to Water Pollution” poster artwork for the public to see.

Osage Valley RC&D is a not-for-profit foundation promoting resource conservation and community development in Bates County and nine other Missouri counties in the Osage River Basin. The Bates County Watershed Festival was held in conduction with the Mound Branch Watershed Evaluation and Restoration Project which is partially funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

For more information visit www.osagevalleyrcd.com or call the RC&D office at 660-679-4332.

Balloon toss at the Watershed Festival today

Sponsors providing financial support for the event include Adrian Bank, Casey’s General Store, Community First Bank, James Binkley, D.D.S., Don’s Tire & Service, Ferguson Farms, Grizzell’s, Max Motors, Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, Ritchie J. Davis with American Family Insurance, Security Bank, and Wimsatt Propane.