Sussex County - News and Information

Sussex County Fourth-graders Gear up for MY COUNTY Poster Contest

Not everyone is aware that county government in New Jersey is responsible for county road maintenance, jails, mortgage and deed recording, voting procedures, protection of the rights of minors, and much more.

To help promote awareness of the work that is done throughout New Jersey's 21 counties, each county's Constitutional Officers, which include the County Clerk, Sheriff, and Surrogate, annually sponsor a poster contest for children called "My County." Fourth-graders from all over the state, who generally study the State of New Jersey as part of their curriculum, are invited each year to create posters that depict the special and unique qualities of their respective county and how those qualities relate to the services provided by county government.

In February the Sussex County Clerk sent letters to each of the county's elementary schools, inviting our fourth-grade students to participate in the annual My County Poster Contest. The County Clerk coordinates the effort with those fourth-grade teachers who choose to participate in the program.

Once submitted, the posters are reviewed by a panel of judges sometime in April, with the winners announced in early May. The first-place winner is invited to the County Seat to meet and have his/her photo taken with the county's constitutional officers, and all participants receive a certificate for their participation. First, Second, and Third-place winners, along with any special award winners, will have their winning posters displayed in the County Building during the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show/NJ State Fair at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in August. Additionally, artwork comprising the winning posters is printed on book covers, which are handed out to the following year's incoming fourth-grade class.

2009 My County Poster Contest Winners
2009 Poster Winners, printed on front book cover

The County Clerk, Sheriff, and Surrogate encourage all of the county's fourth-grade students to ask their teachers if they plan to participate in the event. The constitutional officers and judging panel are excited about this year's contest, which is sure to produce another crop of young and talented individuals who find new ways to transform once-blank poster sheets into wonderful works of art that so uniquely capture the essence of our county.

Anyone with questions on the My County poster contest can contact the County Clerk at scclerk@nac.net.