A Gettysburg high school student competed in the High School Youth Forum at the Society for Range Management annual conference in Sparks, Nevada.
Bobbi Eide, a sophomore at Gettysburg High School, represented the South Dakota chapter of the Society for Range Management from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2024, at the meeting themed “Change on the Range.”
Eide and other delegates competed in a paper presentation about a range-related topic. Each year a panel chooses the top five papers to be recognized at the society’s awards ceremony. The winner is invited to present their paper to the society at its next annual meeting. Delegates also participated in an ecological field tour and a program to enhance communication skills.
Krista Ehlert, assistant professor and SDSU Extension range specialist, said a limited number of delegates were selected for the forum, and event organizers enjoy providing a rewarding experience to attendees each year.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our high school students to engage with the international Society for Range Management group, be immersed in range, and gain public speaking skills,” said Ehlert.
Eide was selected during the 2023 Rangeland and Soils Days, where she won first place in the rangeland display and speech contests in her age group. The annual event is a joint effort between SDSU Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and a local conservation district to give youth ages 8-18 an opportunity to learn about South Dakota’s rangelands and soils through student displays and presentations, field visits, a land and homesite contest and a rangeland contest.
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Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: South Dakota, Education