Lake City, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A Lake City sixth grader is in the running to be a Junior Ranger, and he needs the community to vote for him.
Jace Lyle, a student at Riverside West Elementary, is an outdoors enthusiast. From a young age, he’s enjoyed building outdoor forts, survival experiences, camping, fishing, and more.
Because of his love for the outdoors, his mother, Faith Ingram, entered him in the Junior Ranger competition. If he wins, Lyle will win $20,000, a wildlife experience with conservationist Jeff Corwin, and appear in “Ranger Rick Magazine.”
“It’s cool, I like it,” Lyle said. “I want to win, I want to go on the camping trip.”
Ingram said that if Lyle wins, the $20,000 will be put aside for his college fund, as he wants to attend school to become a park ranger or game warden. (Although, Lyle added, he’s not ruling out playing in the MLB).
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The Junior Ranger competition is nationwide, open to kids aged 4-12. To advance, kids secure votes from their communities, and a certain number of kids advance after each round. At the time of publication, voting is underway for the competition’s Top 10, with Lyle sitting at second place.
During each round of the competition, entrants have various challenges. The current round, for which voting ends April 23 at 9 p.m. Central Time, asks each entrant to name their favorite animal and provide facts about it. Lyle’s favorite animal is a bass, because each one, even the smaller ones, is a fighter, he said.
“The reason I picked them is because I really like catching them and they’re really cool,” he said. “It’s fun to catch them.”
This is not the first interview Lyle has done along the campaign trail. He appeared on K8 News with Chase Gage, and since that interview, he has become a bit of a celebrity at his school. He said his teachers, friends, and even his school principal have seen the interview.
“At school, everyone thinks I’m like, famous and stuff, so I just go with it, ’cause I’ll take being famous at my school,” Lyle laughed. “It’s fun ’cause all my teachers ask what place I’m in, if it’s fun.”
Ingram said since voting began, she’s seen an outpouring of support from all over Northeast Arkansas for Lyle.
“They have been amazing. NEA always shows up and shows out about everything. I mean, people we don’t even know are commenting on Chase’s post, or Riverside’s post, and they’re cheering him on, saying they voted for him, they vote for him every day,” Ingram said.
During each round, people can vote once daily for free; however, people can buy extra votes. Funds raised from voting for any kid in the contest benefit the National Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit that educates on and advocates for wildlife conservation.
Lyle said helping wildlife and conserving the outdoors were important because they ensure animals that are hurt are cared for.
Win or lose, Ingram said the experience has been a good one for Lyle.
“The opportunity is awesome for him, and letting him get to do this kind of stuff is very fun, and even if he doesn’t win, it’s still just a good experience,” she said. “It’s just a cool experience, and we’re just grateful that he gets to ride it out.”
Lyle added laughingly, “It’s fun doing this, and cool. I was already popular at school, now, I’m like a million times more popular. Everybody knows me.”
To vote for Lyle, click here.
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