Youth Find Their Voice through 4-H Public Speaking
If you ask many adults what their greatest fear is, public speaking will top the list for many. The University of Maine Cooperative 4-H Program gives youth an opportunity to overcome those fears by learning the proper way to construct a presentation and present it in front of an audience.
On March 8th, 4-H youth presented at the Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament held at the Washington County Community College in Calais.
Here are the presentations and the results:
Cloverbud Division (ages 5-8)
Zoey T., North Woods 4-H Club, Farm Fresh Eggs
Ira D., Cobscook Currents 4-H Club, How to Build a Snow Fort
All Cloverbud participants receive a participation ribbon.
Junior Division (ages 9-13)
Ruth B. and Phoebe S., Cobscook Currents, How to Make Green Slime
Soren D., Cobscook Currents, How to Bind a Book
Nellie B., Cobscook Currents, The Eiffel Tower
Noah M., Cobscook Currents, How to Get Ready for Fishing
Linda J., Cobscook Currents, How to Upload a YouTube Video
Cali B., North Woods, Dog Showing
Mikaila L., Independent, Pink or Blue, Why Can’t I Choose?
All junior and senior division participants earned a blue ribbon and had the opportunity to move on the Maine State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament. Linda earned the top score for the junior division and Mikaila earned the top score for the senior division.
Mikaila and Noah were able to present in the first virtual State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament held on April 25 via ZOOM where they both received blue ribbons. In addition, Mikaila earned a spot on the Eastern State Exhibition Communications Team scheduled for later this fall in Springfield, MA.
Mikaila, a senior in high school, who has participated in 4-H for ten years, says this about her 4-H public speaking experience, “4-H Public Speaking has opened countless doors for me through the years. It has given me invaluable interpersonal skills, skills that have served me well in job and college admission interviews, as well as everyday life. My love for public speaking has even inspired me to pursue a career in law.”
For more than a century, 4-H has been a leader in positive youth development. 4-H provides hands-on educational and leadership programs for nearly 30,000 youth in Maine. 4-H emphasizes the importance of building the life skills needed to be successful adults. For more information about 4-H, please visit the website [https://extension.umaine.edu/washington/4h/] or contact Jen Lobley, at 207-255-3345, 1-800-287-1542 (toll-free within Maine), or by email at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu.