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Posted on Dec 5, 2015 in Featured, News Releases

Polk County student wins Free Enterprise Speech Contest

Polk County student wins Free Enterprise Speech Contest

(ARLINGTON, Texas)—A high school junior from Livingston took first place and a $6,000 scholarship as winner of the 2015 Free Enterprise Speech Contest at the 82nd Texas Farm Bureau annual meeting in Arlington.

Casey Neuman, 17, son of Jason and Kim Neuman of Livingston, topped 12 other speakers from across Texas in the annual contest.

At Onalaska High School, he is district president of FFA, a member of the National Honor Society and competes in UIL events.

Neuman, who represented Polk County Farm Bureau in the contest, plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in Biomedical Sciences. He hopes to practice as a large animal veterinarian.

Runner-up in the Dec. 5 competition and winner of a $3,000 scholarship was Connell Barnett, 16, a high school junior from Lometa. The son of Brad and Carmen Barnett, he plans to attend the Air Force Academy or Texas A&M University and make a career in the Air Force.

At Lometa High School, Barnett is active in the FFA, National Honor Society, UIL, student council and athletics. He represented Mills County Farm Bureau in the contest.

Four other finalists and winners of $2,000 scholarships were named, including Maleea Harper of Lamb County; Sophia Kelley of Parker County; Ashley Luce of Howard County; and Morgan Whitman of Foard County.

The six finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit elected officials, witness Congress in session and visit historical sites.

Other contestants and winners of $1,500 scholarships were Sheridan Franks of Hemphill County; Hannah Lloyd of Smith County; Regan Williams of Bosque County; Tyler Schuster of Kinney County; Emily Moller of Brazos County; Kyler Palmer of Karnes County; and Justin Stiles of Kleberg County.

Connell Barnett of Mills County (left) and Casey Neuman of Polk County (right) have been named runner-up and winner, respectively, of Texas Farm Bureau's 2015 Free Enterprise Speech Contest at the 82nd Annual Meeting in Arlington. 

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