As part of WI Land+Water's 67th Annual Conference, the WI Land+Water Youth Education Committee hosted the 63rd Annual Conservation Awareness Poster and Speaking Contest at the KI Convention Center on March 4-6, 2020. Students from across Wisconsin presented speeches about relevant conservation topics and posters were displayed with a conservation theme about pollinators. Members of the Youth Education Committee and volunteers from County Land Conservation Departments judged the speaking contest and Association members voted on student posters.
The conservation awareness poster and speaking contests are two of the many programs that our Youth Education Committee coordinates to educate and inspire Wisconsin’s youth about the importance of stewardship and caring for our natural resources.
View the full press release here »
Poster Contest
For the poster contest, the first place winners in the primary, elementary, middle, junior and senior division will move on to represent Wisconsin at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest held at the NACD annual meeting in 2021. The conservation poster awareness theme this year was “Where would we BEE without Pollinators.”
1st Place Posters
Poster Contest Winners
First Place: Lydia Feucht, Dodge County
Second Place: Jack Goers, Shawano County
Third Place: Eve Heidenreich, Trempealeau County
First Place: Naia Sandberg, Vernon County
Second Place: Cora Parchim, Marinette County
Third Place: Ava Schilz, Washington County
First Place: Timmy Camerson, Dodge County
Second Place: Katelynn McNelly, Portage County
Third Place: Alexa Hickman, Fond du Lac County
First Place: Sofia Roth, Green County
Second Place: Emily Peters, Marinette County
Third Place: Ava Leirmo, Dunn County
First Place: Lexi Oestreich, Clark County
Second Place: Clarissa Sprangers, Outagamie County
Third Place: Eva Rosenberg, Ozaukee County
Speaking Contest
The first-place winning speakers from the elementary, junior and senior divisions presented their speeches to a crowd of over 460 conservation professionals and guests from across the state at the conference’s opening luncheon. Speeches had to address a relevant, soil and water conservation issue, with emphasis on the impact of the issue in their locality or in Wisconsin.
Trina Soyk, Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Matt Krueger, Executive Director of WI Land+Water, presented the speaking contest winners with trophies and commended all of the students who participated across Wisconsin for their outstanding speeches, posters, and their commitment to conservation.
Speaking Contest Winners
ELEMENTARY DIVISION
First Place: Briella Brusveen, Columbia County. The speech, entitled "BEE a Cheerleader," discussed the importance of pollinators in all aspects of our lives.
Second Place: Joseph Jarrell, Washburn County - “Wetlands”
Third Place: Kaylee Cornelius, Oneida County - “Penelope and the Plastic Ring”
JUNIOR DIVISION
First Place: Gabriella Gruber, Pepin County. The speech, “Rusty Patched Bumble Bee,” discussed this unique bee species and their regional importance to the environment and ecosystem stability.
Second Place: Charis Headrick, Vilas County - “Protecting Our Pollinators”
Third Place: Thomas Jarrell, Washburn County - “Jumping Worms: Let’s Jump Into It”
SENIOR DIVISION
First Place: Annika Waltenberg, Portage County. The speech, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?," highlighted the importance of pollinators in our landscapes and food sources.
Second Place: Ben Larson, Sawyer County - “Chronic Wasting Disease”
Third place: Paige Lietz, Marquette County - “Wisconsin’s CWD Crisis”