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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Wallace wins speech contest
By Tyne Morgan, Corner Post staff

Whitnee Wallace, a junior at Clinton High School of Carrollton, Mo., placed first in the Missouri Pork Association Speech Contest.

The contest is held annually at the Missouri Pork Expo in Columbia. This year, the Expo was held February 15 and 16 at the Holiday Inn Select.

“I raise and show sheep, but I am always interested with anything that has to do with the Ag industry. So, it was very important to me to learn even more about the pork industry,” said Wallace.

Each year, the topic for the six to eight minute speech is selected by the Missouri Pork Association and then announced to FFA members across the state. The topic for this year’s contest was "Expanding Technology in the Pork Industry." The contestants first compete at the area level, then districts and finally the top speaker from each district competes at the state level during the Expo.

“I based my speech off of their set topic, and I discussed waste management practices, handheld computer systems to record data and genetic selection and how those fit together to make the industry what it will be tomorrow,” said Wallace.

Once each contestant is finished presenting their speech, the judges ask the contestants questions about their speech. Wallace explained that her passion for the subject helped her to answer the questions.

Wallace first presented her speech in September on the area level. Often, when people give speeches numerous times, the speech becomes old and boring to the presenter. Wallace found new and exciting ways to give her speech in order to help keep it new and fresh in her mind. Wallace said she practiced her speech in the mirror, using different voices and personalities, to keep the speech new in her mind.

“You can’t seem like you’re canned,” Wallace explained.

Whitnee is the daughter of Dana and Leah Wallace.

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