Cattle Growers to Sponsor Speech Contest for New Mexico Students

Cattle Growers to Sponsor Speech Contest for New Mexico Students

Students across New Mexico in grades K-12 are invited to compete in a speech contest sponsored by the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association (NMCGA).  Entries must be received in the NMCGA office by midnight on December 1, 2019, and must include the written speech, a video of the speech, and an entry form.  Speeches must be written in English.

“We know that our young people are some of the industry’s best advocates, and we want to give them an opportunity to utilize their knowledge and experience in this contest,” said Tom Sidwell, NMCGA President, Quay.  “We encourage them to describe how New Mexico agriculture impacts their daily life, and how agriculture will feed the world’s growing population while maintaining and enhancing our soils.”

The topic for this year’s contest is “Beef Production : How does it contribute to healthy soils?”   Contestants must compose an original speech with limited guidance from adults, teachers or agricultural industry professionals. Interviews with industry professionals are acceptable research; input beyond research is unacceptable.  Students will compete in three age groups.  Students in kindergarten through 5^th grade will compete in the Youth division and must submit a 2 to 3-minute speech for the competition.  The Novice division, made up of students in grades 6 through 8, must submit a three to five-minute speech, and in the Senior division, made up of grades 9 – 12, speeches can be between three and eight minutes long.  Entries will be judged on logical interpretation of the subject and adherence to the topic; originality; innovation and creativity; and visual esthetics.

Awards will be given in each age division.  The first place winners will receive $500 and an invitation to the NMCGA’s Joint Stockmen’s Convention in December and Mid-Year meeting in June to be recognized.  Second place will receive $300 and 3^rd place will receive $200.

Entries must be received by midnight on December 1, 2019 and should be sent to the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, NM 87194.  For entry forms or more information, contact the NMCGA office at 505-247-0584 or via email at nmwgi@nmagriculture.org.

The NMCGA has represented the ranchers in New Mexico and the West since 1914 and has members in all 33 of the state’s counties as well as some 19 other states. The Association participates in venues necessary to protect beef producers and private property rights including litigation, state and federal legislation and regulatory affairs.  For more information, or to join the NMCGA online, please visit www.nmagriculture.org.