The 10th annual St. Clair County Water Festival was held Tuesday in Pell City and 1,200 to 1,400 fourth-grade students are now much wiser concerning the water they drink and use.

The water festival was for all fourth-graders from county schools, city schools, private schools and home-schoolers. Students were taught how important their water is, and the importance of conserving it.

They also learned where water comes from, learned about the water cycle and learned water filtration.

A T-shirt contest was held and Kyle Kramer, a fourth-grade student at Moody Middle School, was the winner of the design that was on front of the shirt. All fourth-grade students were wearing T-shirts. Kramer won a $100 as did his teacher, Jennifer Terry.

Kramer said it took him two hours to design the shirt.

Mike Riley, president of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, said the LMLPA helped sponsor the water festival.

“We’re very happy to have one of our own members, Diane Deshazer, who is very much involved in this,” Riley said. “To us, it is so important that kids learn this as fast as possible. They need to learn the cleanliness of the lake, and the water cycle that we go through. Walking around and watching all of this just blows me away.”

Riley also said there are some high school students today from throughout the county who are teaching these fourth-grade students, and these high school students came to this event back when they were in the fourth grade.

“That is amazing, and actually a cycle, which is what we believe in,” Riley said.

Charity Mitcham, district administrative coordinator for the St. Clair County Soil and Water, said this day for fourth-grade students is so important.

“I am so excited, and this is a day I have been waiting on all year,” Mitcham said. “Students learned the steps of filtering water and they also had water bracelets, that teaches the water cycle. And then we have The Fishin’ Magicians, Steve Craig and Amy Short.”

Ashville Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Abernathy said this day is so important for fourth-graders.

“It is important they learn about the water cycle, and how to keep our water clean,” Abernathy said. “It’s just a fun day, and they get to see other fourth-graders from around the county.”

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes.com.