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March 3, 2005 Nelson County 4-H Member Wins International Speaking Competition Naomi Cox, a Nelson County 4-H member from Aneta, N.D., recently placed first in the Society for Range Management’s High School Youth Forum paper presentation. Cox’s presentation was titled “Rangeland Trend, Quality vs. Quantity.” It dealt with the need to monitor and assess rangeland health to properly use the range resource to its best potential, as well as preserve it. The competition was at the society’s annual meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, in February. Forum participants came from 21 sections of the society, including the United States and Canada. The High School Youth Forum (HSYF) paper presentation is a part of a week of activities to acquaint deserving high school students with range-related activities and teach them about rangelands and related resources. Other activities include an orientation session, ecological field trip, professional interaction dinner, business meeting and student luncheon. Cox was chosen to participate in the HSYF because of her activities in the Nelson County 4-H program. She consistently places among the top 10 individuals in the North Dakota state range contest in 4-H and FFA divisions and anchors Nelson County 4-H teams in the national range judging contest. She placed sixth in individual competition in 2003 and fourth in 2004. She also helped coach the Nelson County junior range teams that placed first in the North Dakota contest and third in the five-state Old West Trail contest in Glendive, Mont., in October 2004. The paper presentation consists of each participant giving a 68-minute presentation based on some aspect of range management. Attendees said the papers always are high quality, which makes the judging very difficult. Attendees also noted that most of the HSYF papers are higher quality than many of the professional papers presented. A panel of four people with diverse backgrounds judged the paper presentations. The top five individuals were awarded a plaque during the society’s awards ceremony. In addition to being named top individual, Cox is invited to return to the next annual meeting to present her winning paper and serve as a junior mentor to next year’s forum participants. Her paper also will be submitted to the society's journal, Rangelands, for publication as special recognition for winning this competition. ### Source: Nels
Peterson, (701) 247-2521, npeterso@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Click here for a larger format image. (145Kb jpeg) Cutline: Naomi Cox, a Nelson County 4-H member, shows off the plaque she received for winning first place in the Society for Range Management’s High School Youth Forum paper presentation. |
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