Gabe Gardner and Kinsley Nichols earned $51 last year picking Dyer’s Woad with their parents. PHOTO/BRIAN NICHOLS

Get ready for the 22nd Annual Dyer’s Woad Week, a three-day initiative dedicated to removing invasive Dyer’s woad plants from our beautiful Lincoln County. This year’s event will take place from Monday, June 16, to Wednesday, June 18. Children aged 18 and younger are encouraged to participate, making it a fantastic opportunity for families to engage in environmental stewardship while earning some summer spending money.

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Starting Monday at 8:00 AM, participants can pick up collection bags at the Lincoln County Weed and Pest Office. Once the plants are collected, they can be dropped off at the same location until 3:00 PM each day. “I would bring it in every day when you are done picking,” recommends Travis Osmond, the Lincoln County Weed and Pest Director. Children will receive guaranteed payment for their efforts until Wednesday at 3:00 PM, making it a rewarding experience.

A special thanks goes to the County Landfill for their cooperation in accepting the Dyer’s woad collected by the kids. “We encourage people to get out and let their kids earn this money for summer,” Osmond adds.

One important tip from Osmond is to ensure that participants pull the crown or growing spot at least an inch below the surface. “If that is not pulled, it will grow back,” he warns, highlighting the importance of effective removal.

This marks the 22nd year of the program, which has become a cherished tradition in the community. “It’s one of the highlights of my year; I just love seeing kids get engaged and see their hard work rewarded with some money in their pocket,” Osmond reflects. He recalls the inspiring story of a 13-year-old who once walked out of the office with $1,500 in cash, all earned by using a red wagon tied to his bike.

The event serves a crucial purpose—keeping Lincoln County free from invasive species that can threaten local ecosystems. “You can drive to Idaho or Utah to see what happens when it is not controlled. It is everywhere over there,” Osmond cautions. Participants are reminded that the collection is limited to Dyer’s woad found within Lincoln County, as the organizers are vigilant in catching any cheaters.

The payment for collected plants is set at $0.50 per pound, with the overarching goal each year being to prevent a single Dyer’s woad plant from maturing to seed. “The last few years, areas up Dry Creek and Swift Creek have escaped and have gotten up in the forest, in the high-altitude slopes, and we don’t have an answer for that,” Osmond admits. However, he remains optimistic, noting that their efforts have kept the valley relatively free of this invasive species.

“This is hard work for the kids in the county. We have raised some good kids here in the valley,” he states proudly. The event has become a generational tradition, with many parents having participated in their youth. “What the moms and dads did back then is being paid back in dividends. It is working; it’s a little more difficult to find big patches in people’s fields. I am going to take that as a win.”

As Dyer’s Woad Week approaches, the community is invited to come together, enjoy the outdoors, and support a worthy cause. Join in making Lincoln County cleaner and greener while instilling a sense of pride and responsibility in our young people!