Verbal Communication Events

Verbal Communication Events

The following verbal communication events and activities are offered to 4-H members as a way to teach presentation and public speaking skill development.  They are often used in 4-H meetings, and a county 4-H youth development program may choose to offer these as competitive events. The demonstration, informative presentation, professional persuasive presentation and public speaking are competitive events at Indiana State Fair. 

The following apply to all state fair communication events:

·         Members may use a PowerPoint, Prezi, or other digital presentation, signs, and other props that will enhance their presentation when giving their how-to demonstration to the audience from a stage or stage-like setting. 

·         If digital media will be used to enhance the presentation, contestants are encouraged to provide their own laptop computer.  If the laptop is not equipped with a standard HDMI external video connection, the contestant will need to supply an appropriate adapter.  While a standard PC laptop will be available, the quality and compatibility of the digital media cannot be guaranteed as PowerPoint will be the only digital media available at state fair. 

·         Live animals are not permitted at state fair. 

·         There is no interaction with the audience.

·         Questions may be asked of the contestants by the judges following the presentation.

·         Events that have a team category, it is for two (2) people and will be determined by the highest grade level of any member of that team. 

·         The top three senior individuals, top junior individual, top senior team, and top junior team will be recognized in Indiana State Fair Celebration of Champions.

Refer to the Indiana State Fair 4-H handbook for the date, time, and location of each event.  Check with your county extension educator for information about entering these events.

Demonstration

·         All 4-H members are encouraged to present a demonstration at their club or county level.

·         This contest allows the 4-H member to show the audience step-by-step procedures how-to-do something related to any 4-H project. 

·         Examples of a demonstration include how to take a prize winning photograph, how to give an intramuscular antibiotic injection or shot, how to design a mini-barn blueprint, how to construct a garment, how to develop a wildlife rehabilitation plan, how to treat a cat for fleas, etc. 

·         Junior members (grades 3-8) have 5-7 minutes to present their demonstration, while senior members (grades 9-12) will present their demonstration in 5-10 minutes. 

·         Categories will be Junior Individual, Senior Individual, Junior Team, and Senior Team. 

Informative 4-H Presentation

·         This contest allows the 4-H member to present a topic of their choice related to a 4-H event, project, or activity to the audience. 

·         Examples of an informative 4-H presentation include the benefits of attending 4-H Round-Up, State 4-H Junior Leader Conference, 4-H Academy, or Citizenship Washington Focus; the impact of a community service project on the 4-H members involved and their community; why a family should enroll their children in 4-H; how 4-H prepares a young person for the workforce or college, etc. 

·         Junior members (grades 3-8) have 5-7 minutes to present their informative presentation, while senior members (grades 9-12) will present their informative presentation in 5-10 minutes. 

·         Categories will be Junior Individual and Senior Individual. 

Professional Persuasive Presentation

·         Contestants will be required to research a public issue in their community, collect data showing how this issue is or could affect their community, formulate a plan to address this issue, and present it in a professional manner using electronic digital media such as PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. 

·         Contestants are to submit two (2) sets of accompanying handouts at registration.  These handouts will be provided to the judges. 

·         It is suggested that youth practice by presenting their professional presentation to service clubs, 4-H council or fair board, government officials, or other boards. 

·         Examples of public issues could be the lack of accessibility to trails or public parks, congested traffic locations, public health issues, impoverished neighborhoods, school dropout rates, the size of farm machinery outgrowing the size of roads, etc. 

·         Junior members (grades 3-8) will present in 5-7 minutes and senior members (grades 9-12) will present their professional presentation in 5-10 minutes. 

·         Categories will be Junior Individual, Senior Individual, Junior Team and Senior Team. 

Public Speaking

·         This contest allows the 4-H member to give their prepared speech to an audience from a stage or stage-like setting. 

·         Props, signs, and PowerPoint presentations are not permitted.

·         The topic can be of the 4-H member’s choice.   

·         Junior members (grades 3-8) have 3-5 minutes to give their speech while senior members (grades 9-12) will give their speech in 5-7 minutes. 

·         Categories will be Junior Individual and Senior Individual.