Hanover Communication Contests

PowerPoint

Contestants are required to create a Power Point Presentation three to five minutes in length for juniors and five to seven minutes in length for seniors. Judging is based on the 4-Her’s use of the Power Point tool and not on the subject content of their presentation. However, the 4-Her must choose 4-H appropriate subject matter. Should technical difficulty occur, students are judged on their ability to keep their cool and improvise In this competition 70% of the 4-Hers score is based on their Power Point program quality and 30% on the member’s presentation. Refer to the judging sheet for a detailed explanation of the judging criteria.

Public Speaking

Virginia 4-H Contest Guide - Public Speaking
Public Speaking Score Sheet

Contestants choose their own topic and prepare an original speech. Some facts and figures may be quoted, however, it is not a technical talk, but rather your viewpoint on a particular topic. For example, you might speak on “Why I am Proud to Be An American,” “How Football Changed My Life,” or “Who Benefits Most, Horse or Owner.”

Juniors should plan to speak for 2 to 5 minutes, Intermediate 4‑H’ers speak for 3 to 6 minutes, and Seniors should plan a 5 to 7 minute speech. Three by five note cards may be used to help insure that main ideas are covered. Please do not “read” the speech! 4-H members competing will be judged on delivery, composition, and response to two questions asked by the judges.

Presentations

Virginia 4-H Contest Guide - Presentations
Presentation Score Sheet
Presentation Tip Sheet

Please read the above Contest Guide, Tip Sheet and Score Sheet for all contest information.

4-H Presentations can be a demonstration, which shows how to do something, or an illustrated talk, which provides information through speech and visual aids. Posters and PowerPoint slides may be used. Remember these items are to assist the presentation. Notecards may not be read during the presentation. All work must be completed by the 4-H member.

Presentation Categories as per Virginia 4-H

Animal Science- Dairy/Livestock/Poultry/Horse/Camelid/Domestic Food or Fiber Animal
Animal Science- Pets
Careers, Entrepreneurship & Economic Education
Citizenship and Leadership
Food Demonstration (includes food preparation)
Food Knowledge
Home, Family & Personal Management
Natural Resources & Environmental Education
Nutrition, Health, and/or Fitness
Outdoor Adventure, Sports, & Recreation
Communications & Performing Arts
Plants, Soils & Entomology
Shooting Education
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM Topics)
Visual, Creative & Constructive Arts

The presentation should be appropriate for the age and experience level of the 4-H’er and sufficient in length (time) to cover the topic. The time range will be: Juniors 2 – 5 minutes, Intermediates 5 – 8 minutes, and Seniors 8 – 15 minutes.

Share-The-Fun

Virginia 4-H Contest Guide – Share-the-Fun
4-H Share-the-Fun Scoresheet

Share-The-Fun is the 4-H talent show. Competition is divided into six categories as follows:

Vocal (a singing presentation which may include dance or play an instrument but will be judged on vocal performance; includes yodeling)
Instrumental (may sing or dance if desired but will be judged on instrumental performance)
Dance (includes tap, modern, acrobatic, ballet, jazz, folk, interpretive)
Drama (play or scene from a play, monologue, mime)
Variety (includes magic acts, puppetry, clowning, tumbling/gymnastics)
Combination (any combination of vocal, instrumental and/or dance)

Contestants are judged on talent, creativity, audience reception, showmanship, costume, props, and material chosen. Each act may have up to 4 contestants and should require 2 to 4 minutes of time. There is no Intermediate age category in this contest only Juniors (9-13) and Seniors (14-19). Members of an act must all be in the same age category (no parental or volunteer assistance). Acts with mixed age groups may be allowed to participate in an unofficial capacity (not eligible for awards or competition at a higher level).

Virginia 4-H Dairy Poster Contest

Virginia 4-H Contest Guide - Dairy Poster
Dairy Poster Score Sheet

June is National Dairy Month. A theme is chosen each spring for the 4-H Poster Contest to promote milk and other dairy foods. The county participates and sends the top 3 winners to participate at the state level. Posters must be on standard poster board of uniform size – 14” X 22” (half of a regular size poster board) and contain only original, hand-drawn artwork done by the participant. Computer-generated artwork and text are not acceptable and will result in disqualification of the poster. Every entry will receive a participation prize. More information can be found at http://www.dasc.vt.edu.

District 4-H Contest

The District 4-H Contest provides an opportunity for 4-H members and their families to meet 4-H families from the District. District Presentation, Fashion Revue, Share the Fun, Public Speaking and Expressive Arts competitions will take place all in one day. Participants may enter in one or two communication contests. An award ceremony will take place after all the competitions are concluded. Subject to availability, scholarships will be provided for 4-H members who go on to compete at State 4-H Congress. Information about upcoming contest dates will be sent via email.

Awards

4-H contests, with a few exceptions, use the Danish System of awards. Blue ribbons are given for excellent work, red ribbons are given for very good work, white ribbons for good/fair work. There is no limit on the number of contestants who can win blue ribbons (or red or white ribbons). The first, second, and third place winners in a contest could all have blue ribbons or they could all have white ribbons. First place does not guarantee a blue ribbon nor does a blue ribbon guarantee a first place. In addition to the ribbon awards, additional prizes such as cash awards, gift certificates, and prize awards may be available subject to availability of a donor. Contest winners should make certain they send a thank you note to the donor of their award.

**CLOVERBUDS are allowed to participate in all county contests (except shooting education); however, they are not judged competitively. They will receive participant ribbons and awards but will not be eligible for competition prizes.