WINFIELD - Representatives from the Putnam County Farm Bureau honored three fourth graders who placed in their annual poster contest.
Ellen Mills Pauley presented each fourth grader with a check and a certificate for their winning design at the Putnam County Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening.
Chelsie Johnson, a student at Conner Street Elementary, won $75 for first place. Emma Harris, of Scott Teays Elementary, came in second place and won $50. Mia Miller Berty, also of Scott Teays Elementary, placed third and won $25.
All of the posters will be on display at the Putnam County Fair in July. Johnson's poster will be displayed at the West Virginia State Fair and the Culture Center in Charleston.
Last year, nearly 200 students participated, Mills Pauley said. This year three or four schools' fourth grade classrooms participated. She hopes to see the number increase next year.
Mills Pauley also reminded the board that the Bureau is holding a speech contest for high school students in September.
Also, the board said goodbye to two of its outgoing members, Superintendent Chuck Hatfield and board member Jack Coyner.
Hatfield will be replaced by Boone County Schools Superintendent John Hudson beginning July 1.
"I want to express my appreciation to the board and my staff here and out in the schools, it's been a wonderful experience and I appreciate the support from everyone," Hatfield said. "If you need anything from me I'll be around."
Board President William Legg commended Hatfield for all of the work he's put in over the last 40 years in Putnam County, 12 of those as superintendent.
"You will be missed. I think the school system in Putnam County has come a long way in the last few years," Legg said. "Without leadership - I know you always say (the impact is) in the classroom, and it is in the classroom- but you still need to have leadership and you've provided that."
Coyner, who has served on the board for 12 years, will be replaced by incoming board member Bruce Knell.
Coyner has served Putnam County Schools in various positions for the past 50 years.
"That's a lot of knowledge walking out the door," Legg said.
Legg said Knell will do well on the board and the board will adapt to any changes in order to best serve the students of Putnam County.
"We've all got the same goal," Legg said. "It's all about the kids."
The board also said goodbye to two assistant superintendents, Penny Fisher and Brad Hodges, who Legg said will be hard to replace.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.