Building Confidence Through 4-H Public Speaking

This time of year always brings with it a special kind of energy into our schools. Classrooms become stages, students become storytellers, and ideas that have been carefully practiced at kitchen tables finally find their voice. Across our district, 4-H Public Speaking Contests are taking place, and through the years I have been honored to have both the privilege and the genuine enjoyment of serving as a school judge.

This week, that privilege brought me to Central Ridge Elementary School for their school finals. Walking into the building, you could feel the anticipation. Students waited patiently, some rehearsing quietly, others smiling nervously, all preparing to stand up and speak in front of their peers and adults. It is no small thing to do, especially at such a young age.

These contests matter because they build skills that extend far beyond the podium. Public speaking through 4-H helps students develop clear communication, quick thinking, idea expression, confidence, and poise. Those skills stay with them, whether they later find themselves in a classroom discussion, a job interview, or a leadership role in their community. What begins as a short speech often becomes a foundation for lifelong confidence.

This year’s Central Ridge Elementary 4th and 5th grade finalists brought an impressive range of topics and perspectives. Each student spoke with passion about something that mattered to them.

The finalists were:

• Elanora Ernst, “Sourdough! Sourdough! Sourdough!”
• Netra Ly, “Spiders”
• Reed Curtis, “Mr. YouTube”
• Matthew Skarupski, “Screen Time”
• Caleb Sackwell, “Wooly Mammoths”
• Carries Brewer, “Dreams”
• Kynleigh Maynard, “Life Without Electricity”
• Kendra Alvarado, “What Would Happen If All Humans Disappeared?”
• Alice Richey, “How Dogs Think”
• Kiersten Jensen, “Use Less Plastic Waste”
• Milena Baylis, “The History of Pop Culture Fashion”
• Logan Breese, “The Benefits of Learning a New Language”

Listening to these speeches, it was clear how much thought and preparation went into each one. Some were informative, some imaginative, and some challenged us to think differently about the world around us. All of them reflected courage.

4-H public speaking is judged on two main areas. Composition focuses on content, organization, and language. Presentation evaluates voice, eye contact, poise, and appearance. Judges score against established standards, with penalties for exceeding time limits. The emphasis is always on clear delivery, strong knowledge of the topic, and confidence.

After careful consideration, this year’s top three winners were:

• First Place, Kendra Alvarado, “What Would Happen If All Humans Disappeared?”
• Second Place, Milena Baylis, “The History of Pop Culture Fashion”
• Third Place, Logan Breese, “The Benefits of Learning a New Language”

Congratulations to each of these students, and truly to every participant. Standing up and speaking takes bravery, and every finalist demonstrated it.

I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Ms. Nikita Ward, Central Ridge Elementary teacher and the 2026 4-H Coordinator. Her leadership, organization, and commitment to students make opportunities like this possible. Events such as these do not happen without dedicated educators who are willing to invest extra time and care to help students succeed.

The top two winners from each elementary and middle school will now advance to the 4-H Regional Public Speaking Contest hosted by UF IFAS Extension Citrus County. I look forward to seeing these students continue to grow and represent their schools.

Programs like 4-H remind us why student voice matters. When we give young people the opportunity to speak, we help them discover confidence, clarity, and the belief that their ideas truly matter.

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