The competition was fierce as top 4-H public speakers and demonstration teams from around the province took the stage to compete in the 4-H British Columbia 4-H Provincial Communication Finals held at the Historic O’Keefe Ranch in Vernon on July 5. Twenty-two senior 4-H members from across British Columbia competed at the event. These 4-H members are the cream of the crop, having won at the club, district and regional level to be given the opportunity to compete at the provincial level.
There were two divisions in the 4-H British Columbia Provincial Communication Finals weekend, speeches and demonstrations. This year’s participants competed by vying for prizes in both divisions, which include an all-expenses paid trip to the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition in November, at the Royal Winter in Toronto, ON., for the top public speaker. There was also prize money available to the second and third place winners. The top demonstration team won $600 with additional cash going to second, and third place winners too.
In order to get to the Provincial level, competitors competed at various levels with a prepared speech of five to seven minutes in length on any topic of their choice. However, once they got to the provincial level, competitors were given 40 minutes to prepare an impromptu speech based on Okanagan agriculture tours they went on the day before. This year the tours included stops at the Paynter’s Farm Market, Davison Orchard and De Dood Dairy.
A demonstration shows how to perform a task or skill using precise instructions for each step of the task or skill. The demonstrations were fascinating to watch as the youth gave physical presentations; demonstrating to give continuity to the task or skill.
The winners of the 4-H British Columbia Provincial Communication Finals were:
Public Speaking:
1st Morgan Meir, Rushing Rivers 4-H Club
2nd Katrina Jones, Saanich Lamb 4-H Club
3rd Matthew Smith, Saanich Peninsula Beef/Swine 4-H Club
Demonstrations:
1st Meghan McGillivray, Yale County 4-H Club, and Yellowhead 4-H Club
2nd Kaila Kondo and Sara Satran-McCuaig, both Woodlands Hare & Hound 4-H
3rd Clifford Clemotte and Maria Clemotte, both Cedar 4-H Club
All of the judges noted how close the placing’s were between the competitors.