DeKalb County 4-H Public Speaking Contest

4-H Speech participants in fourth grade included (Front Row) Silas Kirksey-1st place, Elizabeth Mosely-3rd place, McKenzie Moss-2nd place; (Middle row) Victor Gillihan, Carly Thomas, Skylar Chausse, Noelia Soto-Cantrell, Gavin Bain, Nicole Watts, Madison Hammock, Leann Wakefield, Ashly Guerra. (Back row) Rayna Johns, Cooper Odom, Jacob Stewart, Morgan Smithson, Marco Cuellar, Colton Crow, Mackenzie Bowen, Taylor White, Kenadee Prichard, Matthew Lasser, Addison Hodges

4-H Speech participants for 5th grade included (Front row) Xavier Floyd-3rd place, Addison Murphy-2nd place, and Cali Agee- 1st place. (Middle row) Deanna Agee, Julian Alvarez, Averie McMinn, Sydney Polk, Caroline Butler, Hunter Buchanan, Cadence Reynolds. (Back row) Olivia Gilley, Emily Anderson, Jakayta Odom, Brownie Johnson, Ethan Spears, Bryson Arnold, Jaxon Kleparek, Jack Gassaway.

4-H Speech Participants in sixth grade included (Front Row) Evan Reid-1st place, Luke Midgett-2nd place, Jacob Lawson-3rd Place. (Back row) Macey Hale, Emily Lumbert, and Junior Manning

4-H Speech contestants in grades 7 through 12 were Lilly Waggoner (2nd place, 7th grade), Cooper Brown (2nd place, 8th grade), Tess Barton (1st place, 7th grade), Jacklyn Kleparek (2nd place 7th Grade), Clayton Crook (1st place 11th grade).

January 11, 2019
By: Leigh Fuson, 4-H Agent

What are your greatest fears? For most Americans, public speaking is towards the top of the list. However, this is a skill that is important no matter what career field you are in. Many DeKalb County 4-H members are learning to overcome their nerves when speaking to a group.

On January 8th, the county public speaking contest was held at the Community Complex. Students in 4^th-6^th grade held classroom contests to earn their spot at the county level. The contest is open to all 7^th-12^th graders each year. In 4^th grade, Silas Kirksey (Northside) placed 1^st, McKenzie Moss (Northside) placed 2^nd, and 3^rd went to Elizabeth Mosely (Northside). In 5^th grade, Cali Agee (Northside) earned 1^st place, Addison Murphey (Northside) placed 2^nd, and Xavier Floyd (DeKalb West) was 3^rd. Placing 1^st from 6^th grade was Evan Reid (Homeschool), 2^nd went to Luke Midgett (DeKalb Middle), and Jacob Lawson (DeKalb Middle) placed 3rd. Tess Barton (DeKalb West) placed 1^st in 7^th grade and Lilly Waggoner (DeKalb Middle) was 2^nd. Jacklyn Kleparek (DeKalb Middle) placed 1^st in 8^th grade while Cooper Brown (DeKalb Middle) was 2^nd. Clayton Crook, an 11^th grader at DCHS, competed and won at the senior high level.

Altogether, there were 52 contestants at the contest. The top two in each grade will advance to the sub-regional contest, which is later this month in Cookeville. All contestants received cash awards and certificates for their hard work at the county level.

Congratulations to all these contestants and all DeKalb County 4-H’ers who gave a speech this school year! There were over 200 total speeches given at the classroom level. To learn more about 4-H activities, please contact the DeKalb County Extension Office at 615-597-4549.