Richland County 4-H Holds Communication Event

The annual Speech and Demonstration Day event was held April 19, 2018 at Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney, MT. 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. This year the event had a special category for Cloverbuds, 4-H members from 5 to 8 years old, demonstrations, prepared public speaking, video and career communications. A demonstration gives the 4-H member the ability to teach other how to do something that they have learned, they present the step by step process to the audience and judges. Members 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. Members are evaluated on knowledge of subject matter, speaking skills and maintaining audience interest. In the video contest youth create a video to share a message. This competition show sthe importance of using technology to be creative and share information. Members are evaluated on the topic, the technique used to create the video and their presentation skills. The career communications is a contest that allows youth to go through a mock interview for a career of their choice, including an application, cover letter, resume and interview. Members are evaluated on the organization of supporting documents, interview answers and presentation as well as their knowledge of the position that they are applying for. This year 27 4-H youth participated in the communication events.

The Cloverbuds that participated were: Daniel Mullet, Solomon Mullet, Leddy Larson, Danny Carlsen, Briar Hanson, Gavin Schieber and Felixe Becker.

In the junior demonstration division there were 12 members that participated. The members were: Liam Steinbeisser, Claire Steinbeisser, Garrett Larson, Landry Larson, Job Hier, Maddie Schieber, Ezra Hier, Cayla Hanson, Eli Mullet, Nathan Carlsen and Aiden Berntson. Due to an increase in participation from the junior members, the members were divided into two different platforms. The top two junior members from each platform were then selected and competed in a final presentation. The top four members were: Liam Steinbeisser with his demonstration on How to Grill a Steak without a BBQ, Job Hier with his demonstration Unresponsive Fun, Cayla Hanson with her demonstration Pet Detective and Aiden Berntson with his demonstration Taekwando. Cayla Hanson was named the top junior for demonstrations.

The Crown Division is comprised of junior members who have, in years previous, already won their respective division. We had two members who participated in the crown division this year. Jori Horsburgh with her demonstration on Easter Egg Bath Bombs and taking top honors was Corbin Steinbeisser with his demonstration on a Knotty Situation.

Two junior members competed in the prepared speech category, Marett Schieber and Josiah Mullet. Marett Schieber gave a speech titled Miracle on Ice and Josiah Mullet took top honors with his speech titled You Scream, Ice Scream.

This year was the first year a member from Richland County made a video for this event. Grady Larson created a video titled "The Stop."

In the senior divisions there were one prepared speech, one demonstration and two career communication participants. Amariah Hier gave a demonstration on Fiddling like the Irish, Rakayle Hier have a speech on Dan Patch Super Star and Kyle Topp and Sarah Helmuth competed in the career communications. All seniors received blue ribbons.

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 Pella Lutheran Church Staff for making this a successful event.