Public Speaking

NEW! Prototype 4-H Presentation Formats

The Public Speaking and Communications Advisory Committee offering two new prototype 4-H Presentation formats at State Field Day this year that do not require pre-qualification! Youth may sign-up for these in addition to their qualifying entry.

Infographic (evaluation form)
Video Essay (evaluation form)

For more information, please review UC 4-H Presentation Manual Addendum 8.10.2021.

Public speaking continues to be a cornerstone of the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program (UC 4-H). Over the 120 years of UC 4-H, the presentation program has expanded to include various public speaking formats and opportunities for members to receive feedback from evaluators. UC 4-H alumni will often mention that they learned how to speak more effectively through their participation in the UC 4-H presentation program.

Every 4-H member is encouraged to give a presentation each year.

4-H members practice by giving talks to project groups and at community club meetings, sharing information about the skills they learned in a project, and observing other people giving presentations.

To prepare for a 4-H presentation, youth learn how to:

Research a subject
Organize ideas in a logical order
Share knowledge with others
Create and use graphics to support their presentation

When youth teach project skills in a presentation format, it demonstrates advanced skills and a deeper understanding of what was learned.

2024 Presentation Cycle Flyer for Families

Impromptu Speech Categories - 2024

Categories for impromptu presentations are available so the presenter is expected to have completed basic research. Presenters are allowed one 5" x 7" note card (single sided) to reference during the delivery of the impromptu speech.

Impromptu Presentation - Senior (14-19 years old)

Civic Engagement (Civic Engagement)
Importance of Sleep (Healthy Living)
Resilience (Leadership)
Agricultural Science & Technology (STEM)

Impromptu Presentation - Intermediate (11-13 years old)

My 4-H Club
My Neighborhood

See the full descriptions of the 2024 Impromptu Categories (PDF)

Types of Presentations

Presentations are not just demonstrations. You have many options ranging from traditional demonstrations for beginning members to persuasive speeches for more experienced members. All of the various presentation styles require similar skills and are designed to meet the interests and age-appropriate levels of the member. No style of presentation is better than any other. Choose the style that best fits you for your presentation and then try other styles as you advance in UC 4-H.

Demonstration/Illustrated Talk	Impromptu Speech
Science or Engineering Presentation	Interpretive Reading
Educational Display Talk	Share the 4-H Fun Skits
Persuasive Prepared Speech	Cultural Arts
Informative Prepared Speech

These are examples of different types of presentations.

4-H Presentation Manual

UC 4-H Presentation Manual [revised January 28, 2021]

The UC 4-H Presentation Manual is the consistent and standard guide for all UC 4-H presentations used by all county, regional, and state UC 4-H presentation events. The evaluation forms must be used at ALL UC 4-H presentation events.

Event Coordinators: Please use the Presentation Manual as a guide for planning your events, and ensure that all evaluators review the manual before your event.

Youth Participants: Please refer to the Presentation Manual as a guide when planning your presentation for competition.

State 4-H Public Speaking and Communications Advisory Committee

Please direct questions to the State 4-H Public Speaking and Communications Advisory Committee. Chair: Vera M Bullard at vmbullard@ucdavis.edu or Co-Chair: Steven Worker at smworker@ucanr.edu.

For Event Coordinators

Thank you for your continued efforts to help 4-H members strengthen their public speaking skills. Learning to present virtually is becoming an important skill in the workplace and useful in their careers! However, youth will need to adapt their presentations to take advantage of the technology, including designing slides, keeping the audience’s attention, and handling technology problems. The revised UC 4-H Presentation Manual (2020) offers tips for youth presenters on presenting virtually (page 11).

How to - Virtual Presentation Day rev10-13-2020

Submit your County 4-H Presentation Event as a Regional Qualifier by February 24
In order for your county 4-H presentation event/day to be considered as a regional qualifier, information must be submitted by February 24 at County Presentation Event Notification as Regional Qualifyer .

For questions, please contact Vera M. Bullard at vmbullard@ucanr.edu.

Invitation to participate in the public speaking youth outcome survey
We are inviting counties to administer a youth public speaking survey at your county 4-H presentation event! The survey is available on paper or online Qualtrics. We developed a 2-page youth survey we are asking you to administer before or during your county 4-H presentation event. The surveys are meant to be delivered during a county 4-H presentation event BEFORE youth learn their award. We are also asking that you submit the averaged evaluator scores – in addition to the gold, blue, red placings – for youth participating at your county 4-H presentation event when you submit results for eligibility checks for regional events. Please contact us if you are interested: Steven Worker, Yu Meng, Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, Roshan Kumar Nayak, Vera M Bullard.