Salsbery competes at State Geography Bee in Billings

On Friday, April 4, Turk Salsbery, a fifth grader from Malta elementary school, had the chance to do something that only three Malta grade school students in the last 22 years have done. Attend the state geography bee.

This year's Montana State Geography Bee was held at the Petro Theater, on the campus of Montana State University Billings, in Billings Montana.

"It was all expenses paid," Salsbery told the PCN. " We also got to stay at the Quality Inn. There was a pool and the pool was very nice."

"I also got two Lego sets," he added.

Salsbery won the Malta Elementary Geography Bee and he took a test in which he ultimately was amongst the top 100 in the state of Montana.

The favorite part of Turk's expedition was " getting to stay in a hotel with a free breakfast."

Salsbery loved the fact that he experienced the joy of "mini waffles."

After breakfast, Turk and the Salsbery family, took off for the competition. Waiting there were 100 kids from all over the state to attended the event.

Turk lasted for nine rounds of the competition. One round is equal to one question.

The point of the bee, was to name countries and places from around the world on paper, which may seem like a walk in the park, but you try to name five of the six countries that border Afghanistan.

Turk knows, just for fun.

"You have Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iraq," he said, without a breath or second thought.

Initially during his interview, Turk had trouble recollecting his experience and what his toughest questions were.

"That was a month ago," he told the PCN.

Then after some help from his mom and sister, it came back to him.

They asked him about a landlocked region in India, with the answer being, "Nepal," he said.

"During the finals, they had this little segment about Canada," he said. "It had to do with coordinates, like numbers and stuff."

The eventual champion of Montana was Jesse Zhang of Missoula. His prizes included $100 and a geography book. The Washington, D.C. competition, will be hosted by Alex Trebek.

Turk said, he had one more question wrong, than he did right in the event and even though he wasn't 100 percent sure of his answers, he heeded a warning from his teacher at Malta elementary.

"Like Mrs. Brady said, 'never pass on a question, because passing basically means it's wrong."

So he guessed, rather than taking the easy route.

"Like Yoda says, 'Take the easy path may not, lead to the dark side, it does," Turk said in a voice very close to the Star Wars Icon.

Minus the first round, which was a preliminary round, Salsbery answered five of eight questions right and placed seventh out of 20 participants in his group.

Though he did not continue on to a national level, Salsbery had an impressive run, he is the first student since Matthew Brady (00' and '02') to make it to the state level. Katie Veseth was the first in 93'.

Katie's mother, Mrs. Rosemary Veseth, gave Salsbery a book that came in handy. The book was The Osbourne Geography Book with World Atlas.

The guide came in handy for Turk, who had studied for hours and hours for the competition.

"It was very, very fun," he said of the trip. "I totally deserve my geography badge in boy scouts."

Turk had a blast in the competition, making friends, eating waffles and enjoying the comforts of an all expenses paid trip, so much that he aims to be back. With three more years of eligibility Salsbery can make it back and may just win a trip to Washington.