November 10, 2024
McKenzie High School emerged victorious over Linden Foundation Secondary School in the final round of the Aaron Leitch Memorial Debate Competition, held on Friday at LICHAS Hall.
The event marked the conclusion of Agriculture Month activities and celebrated the power of discourse in promoting agricultural awareness.
McKenzie High School’s team, led by captain Kaylee Sandiford, successfully argued in favor of the moot: “The use of antibiotics in livestock farming is essential for maintaining animal health and productivity despite concerns about antibiotic resistance.”
Sandiford attributed their success to improved rebuttals and teamwork, areas her team worked on after finishing as runners-up in the JOF Haynes Debate Competition earlier this year.
Sandiford emphasized the importance of using constructive criticism to improve, a lesson her team embraced as they delivered a strong performance.
Linden Foundation Secondary’s captain, Isaiah De Vieria, admitted that nervousness and over-reliance on scripted responses impacted their performance.
However, he expressed confidence in his team’s potential to secure victory in next year’s competition.
Regional Agriculture Officer Deryck Collins highlighted the significance of the debate in honoring the late Aaron Leitch, a champion of agriculture and youth development.
Collins commended the students for their compelling arguments and encouraged them to continue Leitch’s legacy of inspiring dialogue and innovation.
Makayla Reid of McKenzie High School received the Best Speaker award for her outstanding individual performance.
In addition to the championship trophy, each member of the winning team received a $20,000 gift voucher from Giftland Mall, further celebrating their achievement.