Chambana Sun

The Illinois 4-H Horse Speaking contest took place on April 22 at the University of Illinois campus, offering youth an opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills and share knowledge on horse-related topics. The event featured several competitive divisions focused on different aspects of public speaking without involving live animals.

Participants competed in categories such as Original Individual Formal Speech, where Linnea Thorngren from Carroll County secured first place in the Senior division, while Molly Wannemacher from Henry County led the Junior division. In the Original Individual Presentation category, Abby Johnson from Knox County won in the Junior division, with Stephanie Niesen from DeWitt County taking first place in the Senior division.

The Original Team Presentation allowed teams to present using demonstrations or illustrated talks. Jocelyn Erickson and Jasmine Frerkes from Mercer County won in the Junior division, and Allison Burrs and Lauren Burrs from Carroll County took first place in the Senior division.

In Extempore Speaking, participants were given a topic at the event and had 25 minutes to prepare a speech. Nora Moore from Madison County topped the Junior category, while Maya Woodard from Monroe County led the Senior category. Additionally, Stephanie Niesen of DeWitt County excelled in Interpretive Reading.

This year's event also included Horse Bowl and Hippology competitions. The Illinois 4-H program is part of the University of Illinois Extension's College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. It aims to empower young people by providing them with tools for leadership and personal development through hands-on experiences.

For more information about this event or Illinois 4-H programs, contact Deb Hagstrom at hagstrom@illinois.edu or Carissa Nelson at carissa@illinois.edu.