SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2008
Contact: Pam Bergstrom 1-800-228-5254
(Editor’s Note: Following this release is a link to the winning speech and pictures of the contestants and winners.)
SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Pierre, SD---On April 5, ten contestants competed in the 47th annual Resource Conservation Speech Contest in Pierre. The theme of this year’s contest was “Conservation through Education.”
South Dakota high school students first participated in a local contest sponsored by each conservation district. Two students from each district were then eligible to participate in an area contest. From there, the top two winners from each of the designated areas were eligible to advance to the State Finals.
Winning first place and a $1,100 scholarship was Diana Schroeder, sponsored by the Hanson County Conservation District. Schroeder is a senior at Hanson High School and is the daughter of Dan and Nancy Schroeder of Alexandria, South Dakota.
Receiving second place and a $750 scholarship was Amber Knutson, a junior at Kadoka Area High School. She is the daughter of Brandy and Dayle Knutson of Kadoka, South Dakota and was sponsored by the Jackson County Conservation District.
Talya LaBarr was the third place winner and received a $450 scholarship. She was sponsored by the Codington County Conservation District and is a junior at Henry High School. She is the daughter of Kevin & Laurie Beaner of Henry, South Dakota.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of South Dakota provided scholarships totaling $2,300 to the winning contestants. The contest is co-sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts.
The theme for next year’s contest is “Clean Green Alternative Energy.” For more information, contact your local conservation district office or South Dakota Department of Agriculture at 1-800-228-5254.
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