Richland County 4-H Holds Annual Speech And Demonstration Day

The annual 4-H Speech and Demonstration Day was held on May 1 at the Sidney High School. Speech and Demonstration Day is a local 4-H event, where 4-H members get to practice public speaking skills that build self-confidence and self-esteem in these young members. This year the event was comprised of three different categories for 4-H youth to compete in; Demonstrations, Prepared Public Speaking and Career Communications.

A demonstration gives the 4-H member the ability to teach others how to do something that they have learned, they present the step by step process to the audience and judges. They are evaluated on understanding of subject matter, their public speaking skills and how they answer questions from the judges. In the Prepared Public Speaking category youth communicate an idea, thought or point of view without using any visual aids. They are evaluated on knowledge of subject matter, speaking skills and maintaining audience interest. The Career Communications is a contest that is new this year. In this category, youth get to go through a mock interview for a career of their choice, including an application, cover letter, resume and interview. This year 18 4-H youth competed in this event.

Five of those youth competed in the Junior Demonstrations; juniors are age 9-13. Taking top honors in this division were Jori Horsburgh, as the top girl demonstrator, with her demonstration on How to Make a Blueberry Smoothie and Corbin Steinbeisser, top boy demonstrator, with his demonstration How to Make a Natural Battery. Marett Schieber, Curtis Mullin and Bobby Knotts also impressed the judges and received blues for their demonstrations.

The Crown Division is comprised of junior members who have, in years previous, already won their respective division. This year three youth competed in the Crown Demonstration division and taking top honors was Becca Deming with her demonstration on How to Make Flarp. Emma Torgerson received a blue and Frank Kunda received a red in this division.

Three 4-H youth also competed in the Junior Speeches. Amariah Hier took top honors with her speech entitled "Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project." Lauren Prevost and Corbin Mullin also competed in this division and both received blue ribbons.

In the Senior division for Demonstrations Kyle Topp, Rakayle Hier and Katrina Meldahl all received blue ribbons. Also in the Senior Speech division Seth Prevost and Sierra Osborne were awarded blue ribbons.

In the new Career Communications division four Richland County members competed. Receiving a red was Jake Kunda and blues were Sierra Osborne, Johren Carpenter and Kyle Topp.

All top juniors will be honored at this year's Achievement Day that will be held in the fall. All seniors that received blue ribbons and meet all other requirements are eligible to attend Montana 4-H Congress in the summer to compete for the state title. Richland County 4-H would like to thank all the judges, volunteers and Sidney High School Staff for making this a successful event.