Local students showcase speaking skills

ORISKANY >> The annual North Central District 4-H Public Presentation Competition was held Saturday, April 8 at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. Youths from Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego County 4-H Youth Development Programs competed.

4-H Public Presentations give youths the opportunity to select a topic of interest and create a 5-15 minute presentation which is given in front of two to three judges to be scored. Scoring is based on a rubric created by the New York State 4-H Public Presentation Committee which is made up of county educators and a New York State 4-H Office liaison.

Types of presentations include speech, dramatic interpretation, and a demonstration or illustrated talk where youths use visuals to give judges a clear understanding of their topic.

Madison County 4-H participants included Makenna Walrath, Caitlyn Smithers, Cady Webb, Patrick Awald, and Shelby Curtis.

In the Junior Division, Walrath placed first with her presentation entitled “The Trouble with Puppy Mills.” Smithers placed second with her presentation entitled “Rabbits” and Webb placed fifth with her presentation entitled “Sea Turtles.” In the Senior Division, Awald placed first with his presentation, “How to Build a Drone” and Curtis placed third with her speech, “Farmers Facing Minimum Wage Increase in New York State.”

Formore information about the 4-H Youth Development Program in Madison County, contact the 4-H Office at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County at (315) 684-3001 or visit www.madisoncountycce.org