The Boyle County Extension and 4-H Councils identified improving the ability to communicate as a key life skill local 4-H programs should focus upon.  Cooperative Extension Service personnel cooperated with teachers in the Boyle County, Danville, and Danville Christian systems to provide public speaking education in a variety of formats.  

New this year, 8 in-classroom school clubs focusing on communications were conducted at Boyle County Middle School (200 youth).  CES provided educators, curriculum, core content checklists, and materials for seven monthly meetings of each club, six of which featured a Core Content lesson.  Club meetings covered public speaking skills, facts vs. opinions, slide design, writing appropriate emails, and use of descriptive language.  All 200 youth gave at least 2 speeches before their classmates.  In an end of year evaluation:

97% of youth indicated they could write a speech with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

89% agreed they learned what stage fright feels like for them and some things they could do to manage their symptoms.

94% agreed they used communication skills they learned in 4-H in one or more public speeches this year.

94% agreed they have become a better public speaker because of their 4-H club work this year.

97% agreed they were better at designing slides for a presentation because of their 4-H club work.

91% agreed they were better at writing emails because of their 4-H club work this year.

For grades 4-6, in-school 4-H clubs were offered the opportunity to conduct an in-classroom Talk Meet.  Ten classrooms (225 youth) participated in these contests.  CES provided educational materials, guidelines, judges, equipment, score sheets, and ribbons.  Students presented 3-5 minute speeches standing before their classmates and the judges on subjects of their choosing.  The Boyle County 4-H Council then offered cash prizes to participating classrooms for sending students to participate again at the County 4-H Communications Contest.  CES provided judges, officials, materials, and awards for 28 youth presenting speeches and demonstrations. Of youth evaluating the County Communications Contest:

100% agreed they had given their speeches multiple times before multiple people. 

98% agreed they had improved their public speaking skills, including eye contact, voice control, gestures, etc.  

100% indicated they had already used these skills at home, at school, or in the community.  

Eight local winners went on to participate at the Area level with three advancing to compete at the State 4-H Communications Contest.