The 4-H communication program has been a benchmark of the Russell County 4-H program for over thirty years.  The Russell County 4-H communications program consists of youth participating in both written and oral communication.  Strong writing, reading, and presentation skills present youth with the dexterity of being good communicators as well as allowing them to form receptive relationships with peers and adults.  When young people are confident and capable in presenting their thoughts and feelings, they are more likely to accept roles of responsibility in their communities and enhance their contributions to society.  This development of internal and external assets, as researched by the Search Institutes “The 40 Developmental Assets” helps to develop youth into competent, caring, and contributing adults.  (Jones, K.R. 2006)

Approximately 75 youth participated in a competition at the school level with 15 youth presenting at the county 4-H competition.  Nine Russell County 4-H youth competed at the East 1 & 2 4-H Communications Day and six at the Kentucky 4-H Communications Day.  All Russell Co. 4-H youth received blue ribbons for their presentation with one youth receiving champion honors and two youth receiving reserve champion honors.

In a post-program evaluation, the following results were indicated:

1. 100% of the youth felt they were good listeners and had gained more confidence to speak to others
2. 93% of the youth gained confidence each time they practiced their presentation
3. 87% of the youth had improved their communication and public speaking skills (i.e. using voice, eye contact, and appropriate gestures)
4. 67% of the youth improved their language arts grade in school and read out loud more in class

Several of the youth indicated that participating in the 4-H Communications Program will help them in high school and college and later when they have a career; they also said that the enjoyed participating in this competition because they gained more self-confidence.