Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky.  The development of communications 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 capacities.  This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006) Daviess County 4-H sponsors a 4-H Speech Contest in the fall of each school year.  Participants include public, private and home-schooled students.  The 4-H Agent supplies each participant with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Speak Up publication.  The participants then work at home and in class to prepare their speech.   Each classroom participating selects their top four speakers to send on to the county contest.  This year 380 students ages 9-13 wrote a speech.  Seventy-one advanced to the county contest.  Five students qualified to attend State 4-H Communication Day by winning their age division at the District 4-H Communications Event.  Those five 4-H’ers all received blue ribbons at the state event.