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2025 Speech Contest Gallery

This year's Speech contest was held Monday, April 21st, 2025 at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Green Cove Springs. We had 23 speeches given, and all the contestants did a wonderful job. This year’s contest theme was “Home is Where the Habitat is,” and 23 students from all over Clay County participated, sharing their passion for protecting wildlife and Florida’s natural resources.

Oakleaf High School sophomore Eden Daniels took home the first-place prize with her poetic speech about the interconnectedness of Florida’s marshlands. Second place went to Madelyn Adler, and third place went to Addyson Hackney – both juniors at Oakleaf High.

This year’s contest had more participation than in years previous, making the honor of judging the contest a very difficult one. Guest judges included Commissioner Betsy Condon, Keystone Heights City Manager Charles Van Zandt, Jr., and Dr. Courtney Conner of Baptist Health.

Thank you to everyone who participated! 

Four people smiling; three hold cash. There's an American flag in the background.
Image gallery image
A group of people posing indoors, with a U.S. flag and two large screens in the background.
A group of people sitting in a classroom setting with papers and beverages on the tables, smiling for the photo.
People sitting in a meeting room, looking at a speaker near an American flag; a whiteboard and screens are visible.
A person stands behind a wooden lectern with an American flag, in front of large black screens.
A whiteboard with a list of names numbered 1 to 23 written in red ink.
A woman is speaking at a podium indoors with a U.S. flag and a few people in the audience.
A cake with an American flag and text: "Clay Soil and Water Conservation District & Its Community Partners 2023 Speech Contest."
A group of people sitting at tables in a room with an American flag and large windows.
People in a meeting room, seated around a table with documents and a drink. There's a whiteboard, an American flag, and windows.
A person at a wooden podium in a room with a table, people sitting, and a door in the background.
People sitting in a room with a speaker at a podium, a U.S. flag, and an exit sign visible.
A classroom setting with a woman presenting to an audience.
A man speaking to an audience seated at tables in a room with large windows.
A group of people sitting at tables in a meeting or seminar room, attentively listening.
A group of people in a meeting room, some seated at tables, with a speaker standing at a podium.
Brochure for a 2025 speech contest titled "Home is where the Habitat is," organized by Clay Soil & Water Conservation District.
Four people smiling; three hold cash. There's an American flag in the background.
Image gallery image
A group of people posing indoors, with a U.S. flag and two large screens in the background.
A group of people sitting in a classroom setting with papers and beverages on the tables, smiling for the photo.
People sitting in a meeting room, looking at a speaker near an American flag; a whiteboard and screens are visible.
A person stands behind a wooden lectern with an American flag, in front of large black screens.
A whiteboard with a list of names numbered 1 to 23 written in red ink.
A woman is speaking at a podium indoors with a U.S. flag and a few people in the audience.
A cake with an American flag and text: "Clay Soil and Water Conservation District & Its Community Partners 2023 Speech Contest."
A group of people sitting at tables in a room with an American flag and large windows.
People in a meeting room, seated around a table with documents and a drink. There's a whiteboard, an American flag, and windows.
A person at a wooden podium in a room with a table, people sitting, and a door in the background.
People sitting in a room with a speaker at a podium, a U.S. flag, and an exit sign visible.
A classroom setting with a woman presenting to an audience.
A man speaking to an audience seated at tables in a room with large windows.
A group of people sitting at tables in a meeting or seminar room, attentively listening.
A group of people in a meeting room, some seated at tables, with a speaker standing at a podium.
Brochure for a 2025 speech contest titled "Home is where the Habitat is," organized by Clay Soil & Water Conservation District.