Northwest Area Students Advance To State After Conservation Speaking Contest

NORTHWEST, WI — On January 22, six students from three counties participated in the Northwest Area Conservation Speaking Contest.

These students had previously won first place in their local County contest which moved them to on to this next competition. Speeches promote the conservation of natural resources and the protection and enhancement of environmental quality.

**See also: Northstar Community Charter Students Compete In Conservation Speaking Contest

Authenticity and accuracy of information is important, and speakers had to demonstrate familiarity with the subject matter, which included having researched facts to back up the information.

Judges ranked three divisions of students for 1st-3rd place. The winners are as follows:

• Elementary Division (5-6th)
  • 1st Samuel Draper (Washburn): Shoreline Buffers
  • 2nd Rissa Vitcenda (Rusk): Maintaining Healthy Waterways
  • 3rd Jaxon Nichols (Sawyer): Soil. Where it all Begins

• Junior Division (7-8th)
  • 1st Ava Kildow (Washburn): Wake Boats
  • 2nd Kaysie Seth (Rusk): Water Conservation for Homeowners

• Senior Division (9-12th)
  • 1st Ethan Rackouski (Sawyer): Pesticide in our Land

The first-place winners advance to the statewide conference in March, during the WI Land Water Conservation Conference in WI Dells.

Thank you to the teachers and parents for encouraging the students to get involved in the contest, and good luck to the students at state!

Group Photo (Left to Right): Ethan Rackouski, Jaxon Nichols, Rissa Vitcenda, Kaysie Seth, Ava Kildow, Samuel Draper

First Place Winners (Left to Right): Ethan Rackouski, Ava Kildow, Samuel Draper