On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, thirty-nine youth from Stephenson, Winnebago, Ogle, Boone, and DeKalb Counties attended a public speaking workshop at the Machine Shed in Rockford, Illinois. This workshop helps youth learn new techniques to prepare them for their counties’ upcoming public speaking contests. This year, WTVO First Warn Weather Meteorologist, Candice King, as our guest speaker. Mrs. King discussed her role as a weather specialist and the importance of working through nerves and emotions to provide accurate weather information and warnings of severe weather threats. She mentioned that when she was first starting out, she had to work on gesturing with her hands, looking confident, and using a strong voice to get her message across.
The youth enjoyed learning about Mrs. King and were able to ask questions about her job and how she handled different situations, especially when the weather was close to home and affected her personally.
Kelly Lafferty, 4-H Youth Development Educator for Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties, provided the welcome, introduced Mrs. King, and promoted the counties' public speaking contests. Tally Lalor, 4-H program coordinator for Boone County, provided icebreakers for the youth. Abigail Nelson, 4-H Youth Development Educator for Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle Counties, assisted with the icebreakers and discussed the state 4-H public speaking contests. Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Director, Holly Wiltfang, hosted the event and provided refreshments for the participants. The 4-H Public Speaking Training was sponsored by DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau, Ogle County Farm Bureau, Stephenson County Farm Bureau, and Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call (815) 235-4125.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.