Jerome County Student Wins Women's Leadership Committee Speech Contest

Boise—Kaitlyn Mirkin from Jerome County won the Women’s Leadership Committee Speech Contest this morning at the Statehouse. 

Mirkin’s speech immediately captured the Statehouse crowd with an impressive array of facts and figures that illustrated the economic importance of Idaho agriculture. She compared Idaho's Ag economy to an engine and stressed that the Ag engine drives the State economy.

"I grew up on a dairy farm and I did this speech to illustrate how agriculture fuels the Idaho economy. I knew a lot about  Agriculture, and I learned more. I want to either be a dairy veterinarian or a professor. I’ve seen the difference a vet can have in peoples lives, showing up in the middle of the to pull a calf or treat a cow with milk fever, I want to just make a difference and if I can't be a Vet, I'll teach,” said Mirkin. 

Idaho State Senator Jim Rice welcomed the 7 contestants to the West Wing of the Senate. He emphasized the importance of communication and speech in agriculture and urged students to not only farm, but to tell the world about their farming operations.

Mirkin won $175, she'll use the money for her college fund.  Riatta Chandler of Washington County was this years runner up.