Holt Boyd 4-H Communications Event Handbook

General Rules:

  • Youth must be currently enrolled in 4-H to participate in any 4-H Communications Event.
  • Youth may participate in all age eligible Communications Events.
  • The 4-H Communications Event will be divided into groups determined by their 4-H age, the age of the youth before January 1 of the current year. Age Divisions are:
  • Clover Kids (4-H age 5-7) County Level Competition Only
  • Junior (4-H age 8-10) County and State Level Competition
  • Intermediate (4-H age 11-13) County and State Level Competition
  • Senior (4-H age 14-18) County and State Level Competition
  • The Holt County and Boyd County Communications Events will be held jointly in 2026. Contestants will compete within their respective counties - Holt County participants will compete against other Holt County participants, and Boyd County participants will compete against other Boyd County participants. Each county will continue to present its own awards. For 2026, the event will be hosted in Holt County and will be hosted in Boyd County in 2027.
  • The CC in front of class number means it is COUNTY CONTEST
  • The SC in front of class number means eligible to compete at STATE CONTEST if chosen.

Schedules:

  • County – See newsletters, emails, and web page for county information.
  • State - See Premier Communication Event 4-H web page for contest information. The State Competition will be held in Lincoln.

Dress Code:

  • Boyd County - Official 4-H dress code of a white or grey shirt/blouse/t-shirt and dark blue jeans OR nice street clothes (no shorts) OR clothes that are appropriate according to your speech with the official 4-H chevron attached.
  • Holt County - Nice Street clothes and you do NOT have to wear the 4-H Chevron.

County Contest Entry: 

  • County Contestants must submit all entries through Fairwire at  Holt County Fairwire OR Boyd County Fairwire by April 7.
  • No outline or copy of reading is required.
  • Contestants MUST submit PSA’s (in .wav or .mp3 audio format) and/or Video Communication (in .mp4 format) via email to county office holt-county@unl.edu OR boyd-county@unl.edu by April 7.
  • Note cards are acceptable if used properly. Speeches should not be read from cards as they should be “notes” only. You can refer to them but do not read from them.
  • You can use the floor area to walk around while you give your speech but do not look at your note cards while walking.

Resources for all Contests:

Prepared Speech

The Prepared Speech contest provides youth with the opportunity to write and prepare a speech on a topic related to their 4-H experience. The judge will view the speech and evaluate based on the subject, organization, and delivery of the speech.

Rules:

  • Length
  • Junior Division (Ages - 8-10): 2 to 3 minutes
  • Intermediate Division (Ages - 11-13): 3 to 5 minutes
  • Senior Division (Ages - 14-18): 5 to 8 minutes
  • All speeches must be original and include 4-H as the major component of the speech.
  • 4-H public speakers may not use an old speech written by a sibling, other 4-H member, or anyone else.
  • Acknowledge the source of information used in the speech. For example, an article from a magazine may be used for reference but should not be quoted directly unless you tell the audience your source.
  • Use of visual aids and props are not allowed.
  • No team speeches are allowed.
  • Judges will deduct three points from the contestant's speech score for each 30 seconds under or over the time limit (Senior Division only).

DIVISION 155 – PREPARED SPEECH CLASSES

(Age prior to Jan. 1 of current year)

*Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event 

SC-B155902 - Junior Division - Original Speech

SC-B155903 - Intermediate Division - Original Speech

SC-B155904 - Senior Division - Original Speech

DIVISION 900 - CLOVER KID SPEECH CLASS

(Sample Ideas: Non-Original - Recite or read a poem, short story 
(or part of a story), Pledge of Allegiance or 4-H Pledge.)
Must be under 1½ minutes in length. 

* Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

CC-K900900 - Clover Kid Speech
For the readings, it works best if you type the reading out and then print it in a larger font (to make it easier to read). This is easier than trying to balance the book while turning pages and reading all at the same time.

 

IMPROMPTU SPEECH

The Impromptu Speech competition gives youth the opportunity to write and present a speech around a 4-H related topic that they select during the competition where they are given 15 minutes to develop and prepare for their presentation. Judges are evaluating the subject, organization, and delivery of the speech.

Rules

  • Length
    • Junior Division (Ages 8-10): 1½ minutes
    • Intermediate Division (Ages 11-13): 3 minutes
    • Senior Division (Ages 14-18): 5 minutes
  • Only individuals may compete in this class; no team entries are allowed.
  • On the day of the contest, participants will have a topic randomly selected for them. Youth will have no more than 15 minutes to develop a speech on the selected topic. Participants will then deliver the speech to judges and audience members.
  • Example topic: My Day in 4-H

DIVISION 155 – IMPROMPTU SPEECH CLASSES

(4-H Age before to Jan. 1 of current year)

Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

SC-B155905 - Junior Division - Impromptu Speech

SC-B155906 - Intermediate Division - Impromptu Speech

SC-B155907 - Senior Division - Impromptu Speech

Radio Public Service Announcements (PSA’s)

The Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest challenges youth to write and record a 60-second promotional audio recording focused on a yearly theme that could be played on the radio to promote the work of Nebraska 4-H. Youth are judged on their overall organization and delivery of the PSA.

The field of broadcasting continues to influence a much wider array of career possibilities. With the expansion of radio station formats and cable TV, people need broader communications skill at an earlier age to fit into today's job market. The ability to write and deliver a message which conveys a complete thought in sixty seconds or less is the reality of both broadcast and personal communications.

The PSA’s will be required at the Extension Office prior to the county contest. The PSA’s will be judged prior to the county contest but the audience present at the county contest will be able to listen to all of them. The emphasis is on the presentation of a PSA for radio. For that reason, scoring is based on the content of the material and the delivery. The recording should include a timekeeper who will count down as they would in a studio. They will say, three, two, one and then the speaker will start to speak. The clock will begin at that time.

Rules:

  • Length
  • Junior Division (Ages - 8-10): 60 seconds
  • Intermediate Division (Ages - 11-13): 60 seconds
  • Senior Division (Ages - 14-18): 60 seconds
  • All radio PSA’s must promote 4-H and be general enough to be used anywhere in Nebraska at any time of the year.
  • Radio PSA’s will be submitted electronically as a .wav or mp3 format.
  • The state theme for the 2026 Public Service Announcement is "Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow" and must be incorporated in the PSA.
  • All 4-H PSA’s must include the following tag line within the last ten seconds of the PSA: “Learn more about the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu.” The tag line is included in the 60 second time limit.
  • Sound effects and public domain music may be used. Copyrighted material may not be used.
  • All PSA’s must be the original work of the presenter. Contestants may not use PSA’s written and provided by the state or national staff.
  • No team PSA’s are allowed.

DIVISION 155 – RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CLASSES

(4-H Age before to Jan. 1 of current year)

Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

SC-B155908 - Junior Division PSA

SC-B155909 - Intermediate Division PSA 

SC-B155910 - Senior Division PSA

VIDEO COMMUNICATION

The video communication contest allows youth to create a multi-media video around a theme related to 4-H. Judges will be evaluating both the organization of information as well as the audio and video production.

Rules

  • Length
  • Junior Division (Ages - 8-10): 60-90 seconds
  • Intermediate Division (Ages - 10-13): 60-90 seconds
  • Senior Division (Ages - 14-18): 60-90 seconds
  • Only individuals may compete in this class; no team entries are allowed.
  • Youth may use a phone, laptop, or tablet to create a multi-media piece around the theme: “Ready through 4-H …and Beyond.”
  • Sound effects, public-domain music, and graphics can be used. Copyright materials may not be used.
  • Videos will be submitted electronically as MP4 files along with the registration form.

 

DIVISION 155 – VIDEO COMMUNICATION CLASSES

(4-H Age before to Jan. 1 of current year)

Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

SC-B155911 - Junior Division – Video Communication

SC-B155912 - Intermediate Division – Video Communication

SC-B155913 - Senior Division – Video Communication

ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATION

An Illustrated Presentation is a live presentation with a formal talk where youth will use visual aids (such as props, posters, computer-based visuals, handouts, video, etc.) to show and tell others how to do something. The judge views the entire presentation and engages in a question-and-answer session following the presentation.

Rules

  • Length
    • Individual
      • Junior Division (Ages - 8-10): 3-5 minutes
      • Intermediate Division (Ages - 11-13): 6-8 minutes
      • Senior Division (Ages - 14-18): 6-8 minutes
    • Team of Two (2)
      • Junior Division (Ages - 8-10): 5-7 minutes
      • Intermediate Division (Ages - 11-13): 8-10 minutes
      • Senior Division (Ages - 14-18): 8-10 minutes
  • Participants may be penalized if their presentation exceeds the time limit.
  • If team members are not in the same age division, they must compete in the age division of the oldest team member.
  • All 4-H Presentations topics should be related to what the 4-H youth is learning through 4-H educational experiences.
  • 4-H Presentations should include an introduction (the “why” portion of the topic), a body (the “show and tell” portion of the topic), and a conclusion/summary (the “what” portion of the topic).
  • Table(s) and one easel will be provided. Only presenters and extension staff will be permitted in the designated preparation areas, no relatives, or friends, please. Presenters are expected to clean up the areas in which they work. Participants must provide their own computer or other equipment needed.
  • Live animals may be used in the presentation. All County Fair Livestock Health Requirements must be followed. Presenters are responsible for all stalling arrangements, care, and handling of animals. Animals can only remain in the presentation area while the owner is present. Presenters must inform Extension Office that you will be having live animal(s) in your presentation.

DIVISION 155 – ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATION CLASSES

(4-H Age before to Jan. 1 of current year)

Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

SC-B155114 – Junior Division Illustrated Presentation - Individual or Team

SC-B155115 – Intermediate Division Illustrated Presentation - Individual or Team

SC-B155116 – Senior Division Illustrated Presentation - Individual or Team

DIVISION 900 - CLOVER KID PRESENTATIONS CLASS

* Judged in the spring at the County 4-H Communications Event

CC-K900901 - Clover Kid Presentation Show and Tell

 

Prepared by the University of Nebraska  - Extension in Holt and Boyd Counties

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.                                              ©2026