SPEECH & PREMIER COMMUNICATIONS EVENT
Nebraska 4-H Youth: Share Your Recovery Stories and Inspire Your Community
4-H youth who have been affected with severe weather events in Nebraska are invited to “share” their experiences, stories, and recommendations.
Choose a topic that resonates with you. Possible themes include:
Sharing a personal success story
- Discussing a recovery action, you took or how you helped your neighbors and community
- Offering recovery tips, ideas, or recommendations to be better prepared the next time
We encourage you to share your experiences on one of the following 4-H contests/platforms, where your story can have a meaningful impact. Your participation will help strengthen our collective recovery efforts and inspire others to take action.
SPEECH (DEPARTMENT B)
Purple $6 Blue $4 Red $2
Speech Contest is on Monday, April 28 at 6 p.m. Registration due Monday, April 15.
See information above for information on Disaster topics.
Prepared Speech Contest Rules:
Contest provides youth the opportunity to write and prepare a speech on a topic related to their 4-H experience.
Length of Speeches:
Junior Division: (ages 8-10) 2-3 minutes
Intermediate Division: (ages 11-13) 3-5 minutes
Senior Division: (ages 14-18) 5-8 minutes
All speeches must be original and include 4-H as the major component of the speech. Many speakers in the Public Speaking Contest have given speeches in other contest. This is fine; however previous speeches may not be used verbatim for the 4-H contest. It is okay to use the same ideas from a speech previously delivered in competition, but it must be 4-H related. Enough changes should be made to make that speech new to the speaker and the audience. 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. Dress appropriately. Do not wear costumes or special effect clothing. No team speeches are allowed.
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.
Speech Length
Junior Division: (ages 8-10) 1 ½ 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.
Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest Rules:
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.
All PSA’s are 60 seconds in length.
All PSA’s will use the state theme as the basis for their PSA.
The state theme for the 2025 Public Service Announcement is “Ready through 4-H…and beyond” and should be incorporated in the PSA. All radio PSA’s must promote 4-H and be general enough to be used anywhere in Nebraska at any time of the year. All 4-H PSA’s must include the following tag line within the last 10 seconds of the PSA: “Learn more about Nebraska 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.
Radio PSA’s will be submitted on CD. Use .wav or .mp3 audio formats when recording your PSA.
DIVISION 159
Age divisions are based on 4-H age (4-H age is the member’s age before January 1 of the current year).
Classes: Classes;
900. Junior Division, age 8-10 903. PSA Division, Junior age 8-10
901. Intermediate Division, age 11-13 904. PSA Division, Intermediate age 11-13
902. Senior Division, age 14-18 905. PSA Division, Senior age 14-18
These classes may be combined if there are lack of entries.
PRESENTATIONS (DEPARTMENT B)
Purple $6 Blue $4 Red $2
Presentations Contest is on Monday, April 28 at 6 p.m. Registration due Monday, April 15.
A Illustrated Presentation, given by one (1) individual or a team of two (2) individuals, 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. Presentations are given on a stage.
Length of Speeches:
Individual - Junior Division: (ages 8-10) 3-5 minutes
Individual - Intermediate (ages 11-13) and Senior Division (Ages 14-18): 6-8 minutes
Team – Junior Division: (ages 8-10) 5-7 minutes
Team – Intermediate (ages 11-13) and Senior Division: (ages 14-18) 8-10 minutes
Participants will be penalized if their presentation exceeds the time limits. Each participant is required to wear one of the following: the 4-H chevron or the 4-H emblem, or 4-H shirt during their presentation.
An Illustrated Presentation may be given by one (1) individual or a team of two (2) individuals. If team members are not in the same age division, they must compete in the division of the oldest team member. All presentation topics should be related to what the 4-G 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). 4-H’ers must provide their own computer or audio-visual equipment. NO live animals.
4-H ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATIONS CONTEST DIVISION 151
Class:
913. ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATION –
Video Communication
Allows youth to create a multi-media video around a theme related to 4-H.
The video communication contest allows youth to create a multi-media video around a theme related to 4-H. Judges will be evaluating on both the organization of information as well as the audio and video production.
Length: 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. Copyrighted materials may no be used.
Videos will be submitted electronically as MP4 files.