At Yreka, Katie, the daughter of Art and Renie Tenneson of Weaverville, again garnered first place and $50 in scholarship money. With November came the finals, and it was off to Santa Rosa to compete for the State title. The Speak-Off was held at the annual conference of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD). Katie was the youngest among nine participants from throughout California. All were judged on mastery of information and organizational and delivery skills, and all were virtually flawless. Preparation paid off for Katie as she connected immediately with her audience. Words and gestures flowed effortlessly and she beamed with accomplishment when she finished. When the judges announced winners, Katie had again garnered first place and this time the CARCD Speak-off state champion title. She received a plaque and $300, and then State Conservationist Ed Burton of the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced he was offering each contestant an internship with their local NRCS office — icing on the cake for Katie!

Katie has been at NRCS’ Weaverville office this summer, discovering career choices she never knew of. NRCS Soils Conservationist Tiffany Riess mentors Katie on everything from soils and rangeland conservation, to how to make maps using global positioning system (GPS) devices. Together they have met with Trinity County landowners to discuss how NRCS can help. Katie has been learning about writing grazing plans for ranches and developing thinning projects on timberland. She has worked with NRCS specialists in forestry, biology, engineering and conservation and is grateful for the internship. “I have learned so much about conservation and myself because of this opportunity and their willingness to share their knowledge,” Katie said. “I have a much better idea of what I want to study when I go off to college.” Katie returns to school in August, hopeful of continuing her internship at NRCS next summer and starting college in 2009.