Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky 4-H. The development of communication skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member, and a leader. Using age-appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading, and personal communication skills. This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K.R. 2006).

The Campbell County 4-H Youth Development program worked with a teacher of 3 grades, 6th-8th, at a local school to assist in developing their speeches and demonstrations for 4-H competition in the county communications event. Workshops were held with all 3 grades to assist them in topic selection, speech and demonstration delivery, and rubric review.  Judges were brought in to select the category champions.

Eighteen 7th & 8th graders presented speeches, and six 6th graders presented demonstrations. Speech topics included AI and Education, Laughter, Energy Drinks, and Robert Ripley. Demonstration topics included How to do a Back Handspring, How to Make Homemade Ice Cream, and How to play Jurassic Movie Theme Song on the Keyboard. 

3 of the 6th graders who competed in the Demonstration category will Out of the 5 students that competed at the county speech finals, 4 students were selected to advance to the Area Communications competition. From there, the champions will be invited to compete at the State 4-H Communications Event in July.