2026 Unit 12 4-H Public Speaking Contest

Girl with paper speaking and a clover
Event Date(s)
Event Time
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Location
Trinity Lutheran School
County
McLean
Livingston
Woodford
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Contest Event Information
  • This contest will be hosted during Learn and Fun Day on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • Important: You do not need to register for Learn and Fun Day. It is a separate event; the contest is simply occurring at the same time.
  • Contest Schedule:
    • Start: 10:00 AM
    • Break: 11:15–11:45 AM
    • End: 1:00 PM
  • Location: Trinity Lutheran School in Bloomington
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COMMUNICATIONS: PUBLIC SPEAKING

Enrollment in the Public Presentations project is required to participate in this section. No live animals are allowed in speeches. A 4-H member may advance in one individual category and one team category. Participating youth turning 14 years of age on or before September 1, 2025, must enroll as advanced. 
Resources:
Youth looking for resources to help prepare for this contest can reference the following: 
  • Finding your Voice: Public Speaking made Easy (Public Speaking)
  • Refer to the AI policy at go.illinois.edu/4hai for Public Speaking specific guidance
 
 
Formal Speech: Formal Speeches share the presenter’s own unique view and are intended to motivate, persuade, or inform an audience and may include a call to action. Youth may deliver a speech on any topic they wish.
Self-written | Notes Allowed | No props | Individual | 4-5 minutes for beginners; 5-6 minutes for advanced

 
Formal Speech - Original Beginner Ages 8-13 (SF 50501A) 
Formal Speech - Original Advanced Ages 14 & Up (SF 50501B)  

 
 
Illustrated Speech: Illustrated Speeches may be used to inform, persuade, or motivate the audience while using a visual aid. Visual aids may be two dimensional, three-dimensional, or digital. Youth may include audience participation. Digital visual aids must be stored on a USB flash drive. Illustrated speeches may be:
  • How-to demonstrations which show the audience how to do something.
  • Object lessons which use objects as metaphors to share a message.
  • Educational models where drawings or diagrams help explain a topic.
Self-written | Notes Allowed | Illustrations Required | Individual | 4-5minutes for beginners; 5-6 minutes for advanced

Illustrated Speech - Beginner Ages 8-13 (SF 50503A)
Illustrated Speech - Advanced Ages 14 & Up (SF 50503B)   

 
 
Original Works: Original works must be written entirely by the presenter. It may be presented as an individual or a two-person team entry. Manuscripts must brought to the contest. Presentations may be designed for TV, radio, or online media and must be presented live. The types of entries could include:
  • Prose and Short Stories
  • Poetry/Spoken Word
  • Broadcast Media Program
  • Theatrical
  • Combined Program: Combine any number of the above elements along with other creative presentation forms
Self-written | Notes Allowed | Props and Costumes Allowed | Individual or 2-Person Team | Youth must provide manuscripts to judge | 4-6 minutes

 
Original Works – Individual (SF 50504)
Original Works – Team (SF 50505)

 
 
Oral Interpretation: Presentations in Oral Interpretation must be published works, and manuscripts or transcripts must be brought to the event. They may be presented as an individual or a two-person team entry. The types of entries could include:
  • Prose and Short Stories
  • Poetry
  • Theatrical Interpretation
  • Published Speech Recitation: Excerpt from a spoken presentation delivered by a public figure, such as Winston Churchill, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or Maya Angelou
  • Combined Program: Combine any number of the above elements along with other creative presentation forms
Published Work | Props and Costumes Allowed | Individual or 2-Person Team | Youth must provide manuscripts to judge | 4-6 minutes

 
Oral Interpretation – Individual (SF 50506)
Oral Interpretation – Team (SF 50507)
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact
Mikayla Peters
Keywords
Youth Development
4-H
Program Areas
4-H Youth Development

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