Over 150 Lyon County 4th and 5th graders wrote and presented 4-H speeches in the classroom with 4-H judges critiquing each of them.  Classroom time was designated to help the students research their chosen topics and compose their presentations.  Students were given time in the classroom and as homework to practice public speaking skills that were taught by the 4-H Agent.  Volunteers judged students' speeches in the classroom using 4-H Speech Score Sheets.  As is to be expected, some youth were excited to give their presentations while others were anxious about the experience.  Over 85% scored high enough to receive Blue Ribbons for their work. Twenty of the presenters chose to participate in the county speech contest with 43 people watching and listening.  Of the twenty, three were chosen as winners in their category and participated in the area contest where two were selected as winners and presented at the state contest, winning Blue Ribbons there.  From the experience, students developed skills they will use throughout their lifetimes.  Parents stated that they were delighted to see their youth develop skills that they had never learned.  Teachers commented that some of the best presenters were students who were normally shy and would not speak up in class.  They were pleased with the outcome of time devoted to the program.