Jack Duffy of Prescott will head to the state Conservation Awareness Speaking Contest in Green Bay on March 6.

Photo courtesy of Prescott School District

Prescott students in fifth grade ELA Extensions and sixth grade Extensions classes diligently prepared, presented, and recorded 3-to-5 minute speeches for the 2024 Conservation Awareness Speaking Contest sponsored by the WI Land & Water, the WI Department of Public Instruction and the local Pierce County Land & Water Conservation Department. The speeches were required to promote the conservation of natural resources and the protection or enhancement of environmental quality by addressing topics like soil and water conservation with a specific emphasis on how it affects Pierce County, Wis. 

In the local contest in Prescott, Jack Duffy, Finn Zweifel, Kylie Donovan, Jase Schmidt, and Celia Larson were chosen to represent Prescott in the Pierce County Contest on Jan. 24, 2024. 

The next round of competition included judges from the Pierce County Land Conservation Department. Judges gave students valuable feedback and awarded third place to Celia Larson and second place to Jase Schmidt. Jack Duffy was the overall winner for Pierce County.

Jack advanced to the West Central Area Contest on Jan. 30 in Eau Claire and took first place out of all the participants. The content of his speech focused on the invasive zebra mussel and included a personal anecdote of when his brother got one of their shells stuck in his foot. He and his parents will travel to Green Bay on March 6 for his bid at state competition. Good luck and congratulations to Jack!

Submitted by Prescott School District