Communications & Expressive Arts Contests

COMMUNICATIONS & EXPRESSIVE ARTS CONTESTS
(PUBLIC SPEAKING, PSAs, PRESENTATIONS)

DEPARTMENT B - DIVISION 151 - 4-H COMMUNICATIONS CONTEST

(Public Speaking, PSA’s & Presentations)
Division 151      Classes 901-909       Pay Category C

This is a Multi-County Event usually held in the spring. Registration forms must be filled out to participate in Communication Contests. Watch the 4-H Newsletter for details and deadlines. (Normally, this contest is hosted by Richardson County. Information below is taken from the Richardson County Entry Sheet.)

GENERAL RULES – COMMUNICATIONS CONTESTS

1. ENTRY LIMITS - Participants may enter a maximum of:

• 1 Speech
• 1 Public Service Announcement (PSA)
• 1 Presentation

2. ELIGIBILITY - Youth do not have to be enrolled in 4-H to compete at the county level. 4-H enrollment is required to advance to the state level.
3. AGE DIVISIONS - (years of age as of December 31st of the preceding year)

• Clover Kids (ages 5-7) (See Clover Kid Section for rules)
• Junior (ages 8-9)
• Intermediate (ages 10-13)
• Senior (ages 14-18)

SPEECH CONTEST RULES

1. TIME LIMITS – SPEECHES

• Junior :                1-3 Minutes
• Intermediate:      3-5 Minutes
• Senior:                 5-8 Minutes

Speeches not within the allotted time limit will be lowered on ribbon placing.

2. PRE-ENTRY - Participants must register for the Public Speaking, PSA, and Presentations Contests by completing the
   appropriate registration forms and submitting them to the County Extension Office by closing on the date designated on the registration form.
3. DRESS CODE - No 4-H attire is required. Dress appropriately for the contest. Do not wear costumes or special effect clothing.
4. Richardson County does not award 3rd Place Bronze Medals.
5. TOPIC – All speeches must be original and include 4-H as the major component of the speech to advance to the state contest.
6. No team speeches allowed.
7. ORIGINAL MATERIAL – All speeches should be original work and not something previously used by a sibling, another 4-H member, or anyone else.
8. CITATIONS – 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.
9. VISUAL AIDS – The use of visual aids and props is not allowed. Note cards are acceptable.
10. STATE CONTEST – A county may send the top five individuals from both the Intermediate and Senior Divisions to the State Contest. Participants must receive a purple ribbon to qualify for the State Contest.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CONTEST RULES

1. TIME LIMITS – All PSAs are to be 60 seconds in length.
2. THEME – All PSA’s will use the designated state theme for the year.
3. PURPOSE – All radio PSAs must promote 4-H and be general enough to be used anywhere in Nebraska at any time of the year.
4. TAG LINES – All 4-H PSAs 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.
5. SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC – Sound effects and public domain music may be used. Copyrighted material may not be used.
6. ORIGINAL MATERIAL – All PSAs must be the original work of the presenter. Contestants may not use PSAs written and provided by the state or national staff.
7. SUBMITTING PSAs – PSAs will be submitted electronically in a .wav or .mp3 format by the date designated on the registration form.
8. STATE CONTEST – A county may send the top five individuals from both the intermediate and senior divisions to the state contest. Participants must receive a purple ribbon to qualify for the state contest. 

PRESENTATION CONTEST RULES

1. TEAMS – May consist of two individuals. There is no separate class for team presentations.
2. ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATION – An illustrated presentation is a live presentation with a formal talk where you will use visual aids (such as props, posters, computer-based visuals, handouts, videos, etc.) to show and tell others how to do something.
3. TIME LIMITS :
4. Individual Presentation – 6 to 8 minutes
5. Team Presentation – 8 to 10 minutes.
   Presentations not within the allotted time limit will be lowered one ribbon placing.
6. TOPIC & ORIGINALITY – All presentations must be original and should be related to what the 4-H youth is learning through 4-H educational experience, focused on the priorities of career and college readiness, community
   development, entrepreneurship, food supply confidence, healthy living, leadership development, and STEM.
7. LIVE ANIMALS – Live animals may be used in the presentation. All fair livestock health requirements must be followed. Animals can only remain in the presentation area while the owner is present. IF USING AN ANIMAL, STAFF MUST BE NOTIFIED AHEAD OF TIME.
8. STATE CONTEST – One Grand Champion individual or team from the illustrated presentation division will be selected to represent our area in the Premier Presenter Contest at the Nebraska State Fair.