4-H Public Speaking

About this Event

The contest provides a supportive environment for 4‑H youth to develop public speaking abilities and express themselves through a variety of presentation styles. Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend and cheer on our participants.

Competition Categories

• Formal Speech
  • Self-written | Notes Allowed | No props | Individual | 4-5 minutes for beginners; 5-6 minutes for advanced
  • Enrollment Areas: Formal Speech - Original Beginner Ages 8-13 (SF 50501A) - OR - Formal Speech - Original Advanced Ages 14 & Up (SF 50501B) 
  • 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.
• Illustrated Speech
  • Self-written | Notes Allowed | Illustrations Required | Individual | 4-5minutes for beginners; 5-6 minutes for advanced 
  • Enrollment Areas: Illustrated Speech - Beginner Ages 8-13 (SF 50503A) - OR - Illustrated Speech - Advanced Ages 14 & Up (SF 50503B)   
  • 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.
• Original Works
  • Self-written | Notes Allowed | Props and Costumes Allowed | Individual or 2-Person Team | Youth must provide manuscripts to judge | 4-6 minutes
  • Enrollment Areas: Original Works – Individual (SF 50504) - OR - Original Works – Team (SF 50505)
  • 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
• Oral Interpretation
  • Published Work | Props and Costumes Allowed | Individual or 2-Person Team | Youth must provide manuscripts to judge | 4-6 minutes
  • Enrollment Areas: Oral Interpretation – Individual  (SF 50506) - OR - Oral Interpretation – Team (SF 50507)
  • 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

Who Can Participate?

Youth enrolled as 4-H members in communication program areas. Contact your 4-H Program Coordinator with questions.

How to Register

4-H members interested in participating must contact their local 4-H Program Coordinator for registration details and guidelines.

Spectators Welcome!

We invite families, friends, volunteers, and community members to attend and support our local youth. This event is free and open to the public.