February 8th & 10th – On Saturday, February 8th at Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School and Monday, February 10th at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cattaraugus County 4-H members showcased their public speaking talents. Members had various topics from “How to Ice Fish” to “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and everything in between! In 4-H, public speaking helps develop life skills by encouraging young people to improve communication, boost confidence, and engage an audience. When members choose a topic of interest, their enthusiasm and passion shine through and allow them to connect with their listeners on an emotional, intellectual, and often visual level. With the help of our 13 volunteer evaluators, 92 4-H members ranging from 5 to 18 years old presented their topics. The diverse format included Illustrated Talks, which use posters or PowerPoint; Demonstrations, which show how to do or make something; and Speeches, which are done without any visual aids. While public speaking is not a favorite activity to some, when asked about it later on we often hear, “I’m glad I was exposed to public speaking in 4-H” or “I am more confident presenting to a group because of my time in 4-H”. Any youth or volunteers interested in joining the Cattaraugus County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H office by calling 716-699-2377 or emailing cattaraugus4h [at] cornell.edu.
