Maine 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament
Workshops | Qualifying | “Impromptu” Category | Past Tournaments | Questions
Save the Date!
Our state public speaking tournament will be held on April 5, 2025 at DP Corbett Hall on the University of Maine campus. Youth must qualify for this event by achieving a score of 78 or higher at their county or regional tournament. Check with your county 4-H staff to find out when your county tournament will be held.
For an overview and photo gallery of the 2022 Maine State Public Speaking Tournament, view the page.
Public Speaking Workshops
2025 4-H Public Speaking Workshops
Go to your county web page or call your county office for exact locations and times.
Virtual Speak Up Workshop
February 4 at 6:00 pm over Zoom
Log into your family’s ZSuite account, and click “Events” to register, or use this link.
Hancock County
Sunday, January 12, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
This workshop is open to enrolled 4-Hers and others who are interested in learning about 4-H Public Speaking. Limited to the first 16 youth to register.
Knox and Lincoln Counties
Saturday, January 11
Cumberland County
Tuesday, January 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Aroostook County
Thursday, January 30, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Oxford County
Thursday, February 20
Piscataquis County
Will be running a SPIN Club
Qualifying for the State Tournament
All youth in the junior and senior divisions (ages 9 to 18 in 4-H years) participating in a County Public Speaking Tournament – or as viewed and judged by their individual County Extension Office if no County Tournament is available and receiving an average score of 78 or higher, are invited to compete at the State Public Speaking Tournament. Contact your local County Extension Office for more information on County Tournaments.
Resources
- Guidelines and evaluation sheets
- Resources to assist you in planning your demonstration or illustrated talk
“Impromptu” Category
Impromptu is a fun and exciting category that gives participants the opportunity to practice off-the-cuff presentations. Youth will be given three topics to choose from and then have several minutes to prepare a short presentation for an audience.
Impromptu will be a non-scored category. However, participants can expect to receive feedback from judges and peers. Youth who participate at the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will also be able to participate in the Impromptu category as a bonus opportunity.
Watch a video to see an example of an Impromptu talk.
Past Tournaments
Questions About the 4-H Public Speaking Program?
Please contact Laura Personette at (207) 581-8213, laura.personette@maine.edu
If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please call or email Laura Personette at (207) 581-8213, or laura.personette@maine.edu to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 14 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however, all requests will be considered.