The South Heartland District Health Department won the Parks and Recreation Department's 2026 scarecrow competition

The South Heartland District Health Department won the Parks and Recreation Department’s 2026 Halloween scarecrow contest, with the entry “Joy,” who is a Community Health Worker. 

Voting took place Oct. 19-31 on the Hastings Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page.

The winning scarecrow highlighted the South Heartland District Health Department’s vision “Healthy People in Healthy Communities.” 

Health Department staff members chose to make Joy a Community Health Worker, because most of those staff members who worked on the scarecrow were Community Health Workers themselves. They worked periodically on the project as a brain break, taking about a week to complete the scarecrow. 

Voting included one point for a like, two points for a comment and three points for a share. South Heartland District Health Department received 169 reactions, 116 comments and 83 shares.

The winning scarecrow was among 19 entries in this year’s scarecrow competition. 

Recreation Coordinator Seth Webster presented the South Heartland District Health Department with a plaque created by Parks and Recreation Department staff members, as well as other prizes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

As the winner, South Heartland District Health Department received $60 in Chamber Bucks and two free 1 topping Pizzas from Domino’s Pizza.