When a former 4-H member is asked, "What did you gain through 4-H that has made the most impact on your career success?" the skill most often mentioned is public speaking. Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance. Communications skills are necessary to grow as an individual toward becoming a positive, productive and contributing member of the community.  Within the scope of positive youth development, it is recognized, that youth who develop confidence and effective communication skills are more likely to contribute substantially to their family and community.

In the first week of March while life was still normal and just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 14 youth participated in the countywide 4-H Communications Contest presenting either a speech or demonstration or taking part in the mock interview contest. This represents a 100% increase over the average number of participants who have participated in the event the last five years.  Nine of the participants qualified to advance onto the district contest which changed from an in-person contest to a virtual contest due to the pandemic. Five of those qualified to advance to state virtual event.  

Those fourteen participants who participated at the county event were all “a bag of nerves.”  Some had participated last year.  Most were first-time participants.  At the end of the event prior to the awards, the question was asked how many of feel you gained confidence from participating in the event.  It was overwhelmingly unanimous.