YATES YOUTH

How would you feel if you were asked to speak in front of a group of people? Would you be excited, anxious, perhaps a bit of both? Public Speaking is seen as an intimidating task by many. However, the 4-H program excels at creating confident, poised, and talented public speakers. 4-H alumni frequently credit public presentations as one of the most impactful programs of their 4-H career, as it gives them the ability to excel academically as well as in the workplace. Furthermore, school teachers often recognize a 4-H'er in a roomful of students based on their confidence speaking in front of their peers. This year, Yates County 4-H had 13 members participate in the county wide Public Presentations event at the Yates County Office Building on March 14 and 30.
4-H youth are able to practice a variety of public speaking skills. For example, youth may present a demonstration, illustrated talk, interview, dramatic interpretation, reading/recitation, impromptu, and horse communication. In 2024, most Yates County youth chose to present an illustrated talk or demonstration. Once youth have chosen a topic, they must research it and create a presentation to be presented to an audience. Youth are then evaluated and given feedback on what they did well and what they can improve on.
Participants work to "make the best better" each time they present. Each year top presenters are chosen to advance to the Finger Lakes District Public Presentation event. Yates 4-H members join fellow 4-Hers from Ontario, Steuben, Monroe, Seneca, Livingston, Genesee, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties to compete for district awards and gain additional public speaking experience. This year, the event was held on April 20 at Honeoye Falls Manor Intermediate School.
Two Yates County 4-H members attended the Regional Public Presentation event; Arianna Winfield, presenting on Eliza Hamilton, and Ariel Winfield, presenting on Alexander Hamilton. Both Ariel and Arianna are 13 years old and have been members of the 4-H program for 3 years. This sister duo has been building their public speaking skills since they entered the program, making this their 3rd presentation. After presenting at the county level, the sisters implemented the judges' suggestions and worked tirelessly to make their presentation even better!
Arianna Winfield spoke about Eliza Hamilton. She educated the audience about Eliza's life, her accomplishments, and legacy. Arianna highlighted the impact Eliza had not only in the United States, but specifically in N.Y. State! Arianna did an excellent job presenting her topic which ultimately earned her a blue ribbon for excellence.
Ariel Winfield presented on Alexander Hamilton, educating the audience about the chronological events of Alexanders life. She explained the challenges Alexander faced, along with his many accomplishments throughout history. Judges found Ariel's presentation to be of excellent quality, earning her a blue ribbon for excellence. Ariel was also selected for a Judge's Choice award. This award is presented to a small number of youth who left a positive impression on the judge.
A special thank you to Teresa Jackson, Brennan Dailey, and Stephanie Olsen, who served as a presentation evaluator for Yates County's presentations. Teresa Jackson also served as a judge at the regional competition.
Public Presentations are one of the many opportunities available in 4-H. If you are interested in joining 4-H or would like more information on upcoming events, contact the Yates County 4-H office at 315-536-5123, or visit us online at http://yates.cce.cornell.edu/. You can also find us on Facebook @yatescounty4H.