Honorable Mention - High School
Cheyenne High School, Cheyenne

The Windmill

The windmill is a symbol of the tenacity and ingenuity of the people who settled in Oklahoma. The parts of the windmill must all work in harmony for the water to be pumped from below ground, bringing life and giving water to livestock. This ensures the prosperity of Oklahoma's rural farmers and ranchers.

The community is similar to the windmill. A windmill must have a firm foundation to stand against the Oklahoma winds. A community must also have a firm foundation in its past to progress to the future.

The fan blades that make up the head of the windmill must all work together to pump the water. Like the fan blades, the many aspects of a community, the businesses, schools and people, must all work together to produce a community that grows and prospers.

Even on still days when the wind does not blow and the water does not flow, the windmill patiently waits for the wind to begin again. Communities, at times, must be patient like the windmill. During economic slumps and hard times, the community must remain patient and supportive of each other.

A community's schools and museums educate for the future. The businesses provide jobs, goods, and services for the people of the community. Community activities like fairs, parks, rodeos, and sports provide a chance for the people of the community to grow closer through interaction and fun. Churches provide guidance for the community, much like the tail of a windmill gives guidance into the wind.

The many parts of the windmill rely on each other to function properly. Like the windmill, the many parts of a community must rely on each other to survive and prosper.