Contestants Must:

• Be high school students, grades 9-12, in June, and prior to the state conference in Rancho Cardova on November 9, 2007. For more information on the State Conference open or download the 2007 CARCD Conference Registration Form.

• Not have won a prior speak-off at the state level.  Previous winners are not eligible to be contestants.

• Have an interest in agriculture, resource conservation or the environment.

Each contestant must fill out and submit an application form to the local RCD office, which is a member of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.  The application must include name, address, phone number, social security number, school, age, club affiliations, and a brief statement about interest or involvement in agriculture, conservation or environmental practices.

All regional winners will receive plaques at the state speak-off.  The state speak-off winners will receive:

The speech shall be at least three minutes, and not more than five minutes, including the salutation and title.  Notes will be allowed at district and regional levels, but not at the state level.  There will be NO props, costumes or visual aids at any level.

There shall be three judges and a timekeeper for each speak-off:  district, region, and state.  It is the Regional Director's responsibility to include the speak-off on the fall meeting agenda and to secure regional judges and a timekeeper.  Judges or timekeepers shall not be related, in any way, to contestants.  At the regional level, directors from districts with contestants cannot be judges or timekeepers.

Any question arising during the state level speak-off shall be decided by the Speak-off Committee of the Conservation Education Committee.  At regional meetings, questions shall be decided by the Regional President.  Contestants must speak at a regional meeting in order to compete at the state conference.

Regional Winner’s application must be submitted to the CARCD office by Oct. 19, 2008