Providing youth with opportunities to develop communication skills is of great importance to the Clark County 4-H Program. Clark County 4-H Agents and stakeholders recognize that the development of communications skills are preeminent in growing as an individual, community member, and as a leader. Because of tremendous partnerships with teachers throughout the county, and community partners who help organize and carry out the multiple events, this high-priority 4-H program culminates at State 4-H Communications Day at UK in July. 

At the Clark County 4-H Communications Contest, many youth presented demonstrations, engaged in mock interviews, and gave speeches over the course of the two-day event. In order to compete at the county-level with speeches, participants must have been the top scorers in their classroom speech contests. 

From Clark County, a total of five youth advanced through classroom-level, county-level, and area-level competitions to compete at the State 4-H Communications Day. 

Not only are youth impacted by this experiential learning opportunity but the community comes together in support of it. Six different schools held school competitions and those winners went on to compete at the County competition. That requires many, many judges, room hosts, and tabulators. In short, the Clark County 4-H Communications Program marks tremendous achievement and experience for youth, but is also a testament to the volunteer power enjoyed by the Clark County 4-H program. 

Clark County 4-H Council Member SuAnn Williams spoke highly of her co-worker who helped out at a school speech contest, "We were so excited when Ron volunteered as a judge." SuAnn went on to speak of the importance of the program, "Judges can have such an impact on the community and the skills the students develop in the competition, that can later translate to employment."