Contact: Pam Bergstrom – 1-800-228-5254

 

(Editor’s Note: Following this release is a links to the website containing the PDF file of the winning speech, pictures of the contestants, and pictures of the winners.)

 

 

            The 46^th annual State Finals of the Resource Conservation Speech Contest was held Saturday, April 14, 2007 in the state Senate Chambers in Pierre. The theme of this year’s contest was “Conservation – The Past and The Future.” South Dakota high school students first participated in a local contest sponsored by their 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 Alex Sproul sponsored by the Lincoln County Conservation District. He is a sophomore at Harrisburg High School and is the son of Bob and Karen Sproul of Harrisburg.

            Winning second place and a $750 scholarship was Samantha Nelson, a sophomore at Wall High School. She is the daughter of Dan and Marla Nelson of Creighton and was sponsored by the East Pennington Conservation District.

            Winning third place and a $450 scholarship was Elissa Hohbach sponsored by the Aurora County Conservation District. She is a senior at Plankinton High School and is the daughter of Brad & Ellen Hohbach of White Lake.

            Scholarships totaling $2,300 for the winners are provided by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of South Dakota. The contest is co-sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture – Division of Resource Conservation & Forestry, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts.

            The next year’s theme is “Conservation Through Education”. For more information, contact your local conservation district office or the Division of Resource Conservation & Forestry at 1-800-228-5254.

Winning Speech: http://www.state.sd.us/doa/forestry/current-news/2007-speech.pdf