Slaymaker speaks of the Lorax who speaks for the trees

MARENGO — An Iowa Valley High School student hit the highest level possible in individual speech contest — and she’s only a sophomore.

Jasmine Slaymaker aced districts and state and made all-state with her review of “The Lorax” book, the 1972 25-minute animation and the 2012 full-length movie.

Judge Ryan McGeough, a University of Northern Iowa professor, “thought it was pretty funny,” said Slaymaker.

“But I did have a technical difficulty at all-state.” The judge at districts suggested that Slaymaker add music in the background of her presentation, so she did.

“At state, they thought it was great,” said Slaymaker, “but it wouldn’t play at all-state. I just ignored it and kept going.”

Participants face only one judge at districts, but perform before three at state and have to be nominated by at least two of those judges to make all-state, said Slaymaker. “You can’t get straight ones and automatically go.”

Slaymaker received 1 ratings from the district judge and from all three state judges and was nominated for all-state.

Not every large group that makes all-state performs, said Slaymaker. It would take too long. But all individuals who make all-state perform their pieces.

Speech participants who present reviews have eight minutes to speak and present a slideshow or some other type of visual aid.

“One of the girl … reviewed Midwest gas stations,” Slaymaker said. Another girl reviewed the musical “Hadestown.”

“You can really review anything.”

During large group speech season, Slaymaker performed improv with Carli Kanke, Shayla Helgesen and Delaney Stubblefield. A member of the group drew three prompts and picked one for the group to perform, said Slaymaker.

The group had two minutes to discuss what to do with the prompt and five minutes to act out the scene.

“At districts our prompt was hosting a charity event at school,” said Slaymaker. “At practice one day we had a really funny improv in which one of our group members was a French pig.” So at districts, they improvised a French pig fundraiser.

The prompt at state contest had something to do with hosting a Valentine’s Day special, Slaymaker said.

The team received all 1 ratings and made all-state but weren’t chosen to perform.

“Individual season came around, and I was questioning doing it at all in the first place,” Slaymaker said.

She’d read “The Lorax” as a child, and one day found the 1972 television animation on YouTube.

“And I watched it about 30 times in the last few months,” Slaymaker said.

She showed it to her English teacher, Brooke Ness, who is also the speech adviser.

“I may or may not have recited the entire short film,” Slaymaker laughed.

Ness suggested she use “The Lorax” for speech contest. Slaymaker prepared a review of the three versions.

“My favorite is the short film. By far. It’s so great,” said Slaymaker.

“If you only have time for two of them, do not watch the movie,” Slaymaker said. There’s too much “random weird stuff that doesn’t have to do with the Lorax.”

Outside of speech contest and watching old animation, Slaymaker participates in drama, FFA, FBLA, volleyball, basketball, golf and softball.

With two years left in high school, Slaymaker hopes to make all-state a few more times. She’ll definitely stay in group improv, she said.