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◆ Area youth earn over $12,000 and bring in 25,000 pounds of Dyer’s Woad.

Many area youth took advantage of the 2020 Bag of Woad program offered by the Lincoln County Weed and Pest. The program encourages area youth to pick Dyer’s Woad and turn the noxious weeds in for money.

According to Travis Osmond of Lincoln County Weed and Pest, the annual Bag of Woad program has several benefits.

“We love to give back to the community,” said Osmond. “This program provides kids an opportunity to work hard and earn some money. It also helps Lincoln County Weed and Pest with our weed prevention and education efforts. We want people to be weed aware.”

Osmond said that the Bag of Woad program has proven to be a successful means of dealing with Dyer’s Woad.

“It has made and is making a difference,” he said. “Just compare what you see in Idaho or Utah. We have a lot less Dyer’s Woad than they do. And we want to keep it that way.”

Osmond encouraged area families to learn about noxious weeds, how to identify them and how to eradicate them. He also wants people to become more aware on the damage and danger noxious weeds present.

According to Lincoln County Weed and Pest, 200 youth in the Cokeville and Star Valley area made the decision to take part in the 2020 Bag of Woad program. Over the course of four days, those youth brought in 25,137 pounds of Dyer’s Woad to the Lincoln County Weed and Pest.

A total of $12,579 was paid out to the Bag of Woad participants in Cokeville and Star Valley this year. The top earners for 2020 were Mason and Carter Child of Cokeville, who brought in 1,684 pounds of Dyer’s Woad.

“We so appreciate the families and youth that get involved with this program,” said Osmond.