Public Speaking Contest
Date: January 29, 2026
Location: Agricenter International
B-Wing (7777 Walnut Grove Rd.)
Pre-Registration: Thursday, January 22nd
Check-in: 5:00 P.M. to 5:45 P.M.
Contest Starts at 6:00 P.M.
Learning to be a good public speaker is something that will be useful throughout a 4-H member’s lifetime. Good public speakers are made, not born. The necessary skills associated with being a good public speaker have always been an important part of the 4-H experience and 4-H clubs are encouraged to foster a positive, learning-oriented environment for youth regarding this subject. 4-H’ers will give their speech during their January 4-H club meeting. Winners of the local contests will be invited to participate in the County contest.
4-H’ers who participate in Public Speaking can expect to:
- Develop self confidence
- Develop skills for communicating about real issues to real audiences.
- Learn how to organize and prepare a speech.
- Develop speech delivery skills.
- Learn how to present themselves to others.
All 1st place winners will be given the opportunity to advance to the Western Regional Competition (Grades 9-12) scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd or the Southwest Area Sub-Regional Competition (Grades 4-8), date to be arranged.
11th and 12th grade will also deliver an extemporaneous speech. Details will be sent to participants.
Please follow the same rules and guidelines as found below. The same grading criteria will also be used.
Contact Information
Tim Roberts
trobert6@utk.edu
Kelly Ravlija
krav@utk.edu
Kyla Szemplinski
kszempli@utk.edu
Sydney Grayson
sydlgray@utk.edu
Micah Davis
mdavisbo@utk.edu
Khalaya Cooper
kcoope53@utk.edu
Sydney Grayson
sgrayso6@tnstate.edu
Guidelines for the speeches
- Must have an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Introduction: Start your speech with a question or catchy phrase. Tell your audience what you will be speaking about.
- Body: This contains different points you’d like to talk about. You should include at least 3 points.
- Conclusion: End your speech with a poem, neat fact, catchy phrase, or a relatable joke. Don’t forget to remind them of the purpose of your speech’s main topic
- Props or posters are not allowed.
- Participants should use index cards, have good eye contact, speak loudly, have good posture, and not go over the time limit.
- The speech can be on any topic however 5th – 12th graders must mention 4-H in their speech.
Time limits by grade level:
- 4th Grade: 1 ~ 2 minutes
- 5th Grade: 2 ~ 3 minutes
- 6th Grade: 3 ~ 4 minutes
- 7th & 8th Grade: 4 ~ 5 minutes
- 9th – 12th Grade: 5 ~ 7 minutes
4th—8th Grade: You may choose your own topic. Examples such as: “My favorite __.”, “A person you admire.”, “A subject or topic you are learning about in school.” Also, mention something about 4-H in your speech.
Note cards may be used, but NO visuals.
9th—12th Grade: All speeches must relate in some way to the 4-H member’s experience in 4-H as well as something learned. It should also promote 4-H.
11th—12th Grade: In addition to the regular 4-H speech, you will be expected to deliver an extemporaneous or impromptu speech.
Speakers will be expected to dress appropriately.
Girls: Suit, dress, nice top, modest skirt or pants, hair should be pulled away from face.
Boys: Suit; khaki or dark dress slacks; nice, buttoned, collared shirt (polo or full button-down); tie (optional)
ABSOLUTELY NO: jeans (blue or any color), athletic wear, action wear, t-shirts, sweatshirts,
head covering (hats, caps, beanies, doo-rags, bandanas…), shorts, flip-flips, sandals, open toe shoes.
You can view the rules and guidelines in the yearbook below.