Several local 4-H club members recently earned the opportunity to demonstrate their gift of gab.
The Calgary 4-H Regional Communications Competition was held near the end of March at the Strathmore Civic Centre, drawing out talent from clubs in counties including Foothills, Kneehill, Mountain View, Rocky View and Wheatland.
The event featured members who had already advanced through three rounds of competition to reach this level. The competition consisted of prepared speeches as well as presentations.
For the speaking competition, members presented a prepared speech within a set time frame, along with a one- to two-minute speech on an impromptu topic that they had one minute to prepare for.
In the presentation competition, members were required to deliver their presentations in a set amount of time followed directly by a question from one of the judges that had to be answered immediately, reads a press release.
Among the 24 competitors in Strathmore were: Ashlynn Jones, a Grade 6 student with the Bergen 4-H Club, who placed second in the prepared speech junior category; Shayelyn Scott, a Grade 12 student with Bergen 4-H Club, who placed first in the prepared speech senior category; Cassie Kidd, a Grade 6 student with the Sundre 4-H Club, who placed fourth in presentations as a junior presenter; and Shanay Wilson, a Grade 12 student, and brother Rees Wilson, a Grade 9 student, with the Sundre 4-H Club, who together, took first place in the senior category of the presentations.
Shanay originally got involved in 4-H to improve her knowledge about horses. She said the organization teaches members about far more than just animals, and also offers opportunities to develop community, people and speaking skills while building lifelong relationships.
“You learn to take care of yourself, your animals and also the people around you,” said Shanay, who first got involved with 4-H about eight years ago when she was nine.
“It’s really helpful and it teaches you a lot about life. It kind of prepares you more so for things outside of school,” she said, adding 4-H also helps young people to build a foundation for adulthood.
Kidd said she was not certain what she prefers most about 4-H -- spending time working with and raising a steer, or showing off the animal at the end of the year.
“I also really enjoy public speaking,” she said.
“Lots of people don’t, but I really enjoy it.”
She finds it fun to research in greater detail certain topics that appeal to her. Kidd said she also enjoys sharing with others the knowledge she has acquired along the way.
“This year, I spoke about horses,” she said, adding more specifically her presentation covered Clydesdale and quarter horses, the former typically a pulling horse and the latter used for rodeos and races.
“They got their name for running quarter-mile races.”
Reaching the regional level competition was her highest achievement to date, she said.
“I was really excited about that.”
Any youths who have perhaps thought about joining 4-H but remain undecided should at least give the program a try, she said.
“It has really helped me. I used to be quite shy before 4-H,” said Kidd, adding she was at one time reluctant to talk with people but now enjoys the opportunity to have a good conversation.
Scott, now in her ninth year with 4-H, said what she most enjoys about the organization is the opportunities its many programs offer members.
“I love the relationships you build with people and the experiences you get to have and the lifelong skills that you develop in the various aspects of 4-H,” she added.
Any young person who has thought about getting involved should not delay another day, she said.
“Definitely join if you have the opportunity, because you will not regret it. It will stay with you for your whole life,” she said, adding that a background in 4-H programs makes a resume look that much better.
Although graduating from high school this year with plans to study agribusiness at Olds College next year, Scott said she hopes to remain involved in giving back to 4-H in the future.
