According to local employers, communication skills are a huge need in prospective hires. 4-H is working to develop leaders who can communicate with style and provide local businesses with the talent they need. Over 80 students at Fancy Farm Elementary gave 4-H demonstrations this month to practice their communication and public speaking skills. Youth were able to write content, create a visual aid, gather needed supplies, and demonstrate a skill they wanted to show others. Youth demonstrated skills such as how to solve a Rubik's cube, how to make banana bread, how to call ducks, and how to throw a fast pitch, just to name a few. 

One particular student gave a demonstration on how to tie shoes and offered two different methods--the traditional method and the bunny ear method. As a result of his demonstration, a third-grader in the school who had always struggled to tie his shoes on his own learned the bunny ear method and is now able to tie his shoes independently. Other youth learned new skills from friends in addition to working on their own speaking abilities. 4-H demonstrations were successful in accomplishing program goals.

Graves County 4-H had two area champions and one state champion this year in the 4-H Communications Contests. Congratulations to all the youth involved in this exceptional program.