South Walton High School youth leadership student, Mackenzie Brundage, won first place at the Florida Farm Bureau District 1 speech contest held on Wednesday, September 16^th at the Washington County Farm Bureau Office.  She qualified to participate in the District 1 contest after winning first place at the Walton County speech competition held earlier in the month.  Mackenzie, a 10^th grade student, will go on to compete at the state level representing Florida Farm Bureau’s District 1 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on October 29^th.  In addition to participating in the state competition, Mackenzie has been asked to speak at surrounding county Farm Bureau monthly meetings as well as at the annual state meeting.  She has also been invited to perform her speech for the Department of Agriculture next August.  Walton County Superintendent Anderson had the following to say about Mackenzie and the youth leadership program, “Mackenzie is a perfect example of what the leadership class at South Walton High School is all about.  Building students’ self-esteem prepares them for this type of activity with life-long benefits. We congratulate Mackenzie and wish her well in future competitions.” When asked how being part of the WCSD Youth Leadership Program at SWHS has helped her thus far this school year, Mackenzie commented, “The youth leadership program at SWHS has helped me develop my strengths in public speaking and it has helped me become a leader."