Estill County is a beautiful area and a great place to grow up.  We are located about 50 miles southeast of Lexington, Kentucky.  Our county seat is Irvine.  With a total county population of just over 15,000, we are a fairly close-knit community.  Less than 4,000 of Estill County residents live within the city limits of Irvine and our second-largest town, Ravenna.  This figure alone goes to show you how rural of a community we live in.  A lot of agricultural production goes on "in these hills."  Our per capita income figures hover just above half of the national average.  Our largest manufacturer is Carhartt, Inc., which employs over 200 people.  We have only one public school district with 1 high school, 1 middle school (junior high school), and 3 elementary schools.  Our total school district enrollment is between 2,500 and 3,000. 

All statistical data figures were collected from Estill.net.

Pride.  Sweat.  Hard work.  Determination.  These are a few of the terms that come to mind when thinking of the Estill County High School Marching Engineers.  The band program has been in existence for many years and has continued gradually to get better.  Awards and trophies line the walls of the Estill County High School band room.  Countless photos and newspaper articles are filed away in the scrapbooks of current and past band members and supporters.  A certain amount of special pride resides in the hearts of ECHS band members.  Unlike the stories many hear of other (mostly larger) high schools in which band members are hassled and made fun of, our small high school, as well as our community, has always shown strong support for our band program.  Our athletes do not resent the band or shun band members.  On the contrary, Estill County athletes repeatedly request the band play at more of their competitions and events.  It is an honor to be a member of the Estill band, and our members exhibit the utmost class and discipline on and off the field.  First place trophies are great, but we value the Esprit de Corps awards at competitions (given to bands that conduct themselves with the most class) just as highly as first place.  The ECHS Marching Engineers are a first-class program.  We are working diligently to reach and surpass the plateau that will unofficially classify us as one of the elite bands in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  This ethic has inspired what we will most definitely be chanting throughout the upcoming season:  "This is the year..."