Public speaking is an important skill that is losing to a very digital age of pre-recorded video for entertainment and knowledge. This spring 71 students from 5 local schools held a communications contest for grades 4^th-12^th. Two winners from each division moved on to the Christian County 4-H county level contest where a record of 21 youth participated. “I had a difficult time scoring these youth on their speeches, each worked very hard to preparing for the event and had to courage to stand in front of their family and peers to give their speech,” said one local judge.

During the Area Communication Contest in Madisonville, KY, nine youth from Christian County competed for a chance to move to the next level. These youth showed much talent and determination as they had continued to practice to do their best. The results of the area contest have four youth from Hopkinsville moving on the state contest in July.