Three local students recently performed speeches for the Portage County Conservation Speech Contest and the North Central Land and Water Conservation Association (NCLWCA) area speech contest. Speakers research topics which promote the conservation of natural resources and the protection or enhancement of environmental quality.

In the Elementary Division (grades five through six), Annika Waltenberg performed a speech titled “Save the Ash Trees,” in the Junior Division (grades seven through eight), Ethan Johnson performed a speech titled “Soil and Water Conservation,” and in the Senior Division (grades nine through 12), Austin Stankowski performed a speech titled “Protecting our Future Generations.”

The three speakers advanced and competed in the NCLWCA Area Speech Contest hosted by Portage County Land and Water Conservation Committee Feb. 12.

Annika placed third in the Elementary Division, and Ethan placed second in the Junior Division. NCLWCA member counties the students competed against were Portage, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Vilas and Wood.

The first place speakers from the area contest move on to the state competition at the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association’s annual conference March 2 in Elkhart Lake.