2026 Water Festival Wrap Up

The North Plains Groundwater Conservation District was excited to once again host the annual 4th Grade Water Festival during the first week of May. This year's event welcomed over 800 students from 10 schools across the Texas Panhandle over the course of four days for a fun-filled and educational experience focused on water conservation, the Ogallala Aquifer, and protecting our most valuable natural resource.

Students participated in hands-on activities and interactive presentations led by staff, volunteers, and industry partners. Topics included groundwater conservation, agriculture, the Ogallala, pollution, and the water cycle. The festival gave students the opportunity to learn how water impacts everyday life while encouraging responsible water use at home and in their communities.

This year's underwater-themed festival created an exciting atmosphere for students as they rotated through educational stations, enjoyed demonstrations, and received conservation-themed giveaways. The event would not have been possible without the support of our volunteers, presenters, teachers, sponsors, and community partners who helped make the week successful.

The District would like to extend a special thank you to our 2026 sponsors, Valero and Brett Stegall, for their generous support of this year's event. Their contributions helped provide educational materials, student giveaways, meals, and festival activities.

We would also like to thank our partners Hilmar Cheese Company Inc., Texas Corn Producers, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program, Amarillo College Moore County Campus, and Frank Phillips College-Dalhart for their continued support and participation in helping make this year's Water Festival a success.

The annual Water Festival continues to be one of the District's favorite educational outreach events and remains an important way to teach future generations about protecting the Ogallala Aquifer and conserving water resources across the Texas Panhandle.

If you are interested in participating in the 2027 Water Festival, please reach out!