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4-H Public Presentations are held each February.

4-H Public Presentation program is a 4-H activity, not a 4-H project. The Public Presentation program is frequently referred to as "the most beneficial and rewarding experience of all 4-H experiences". Public Presentations give 4-H members an excellent opportunity to research a subject, organize ideas in logical order, develop visual aids and learn to speak effectively before groups. With each public presentation, there is an increase in self-confidence, poise, self-esteem, stage presence and knowledge. Public presentations can teach a 4-H'er lifetime skills that will be useful in his or her future social, educational and career pursuits.

It is important for 4-H'ers to begin doing Public Presentations at an early age and continue throughout their 4-H career. Public speaking skills develop over time, with experience and repetition.

There are many materials and videos available about doing public presentations (free to borrow) at the Wyoming County 4-H office. See below for more information.

* Click here to download the
2012 Information and Registration Form *

What Makes A Good Presenter?

1. Practice.
2. Know your information well.
3. Show enthusiasm.
4. Use your voice to get your audience interested in your topic.
5. Look at the audience, not down at the table at your notes.

Resources

The following resources are available for 4-H members and leaders to use in preparing for Public Presentations:

• Public Speaking Made Easy
• How to Make a 4-H Public Presentation(Member Manual)
• Public Presentations, Demonstrations, and Illustrated Talks (4-H Leaders Guide)
• Suggested Topics for Demonstrations
• Outline for Members to Use When Planning an Illustrated Talk
• Demonstration Tips
• Making Posters
• How to Do a Food Demonstration
• Hints for Homemaking Demonstrators
• Demonstration Pointers
  

Videos For Loan

The following Public Presentation Videos are available to view:

• 4-H Presentation - Creation and Development”
  This video is good to show to 4-H members and families. It takes a 4-H member step by step, from start to finish in planning and giving a Public Presentation.
• "Judging 4-H Presentations”
  A helpful video for 4-H leaders to watch and better understand what a judge will look for in evaluating a public presentation. The video will give some hints that a leader can pass on to a 4-H member for fine tuning a public presentation.

Stop by the 4-H office to borrow a copy of these videos!! Please don’t hesitate to call the 4-H staff if we can assist in any way with the Public Presentation Program, on a club or an individual basis!!

The Four P's of Public Presentations

Pick A Topic:

• that you like.
• that you know something about.
• that you want to share with others.

Prepare an Outline:

• Introduction- Greet your audience and get their attention and interest. Tell what you will be demonstrating and explain why you are interested in the topic.
• Body- Present the facts and information in an orderly and logical sequence. Explain what you are doing and why.
• Summary- Briefly restate main points of presentation. Give sources of information. Ask the audience if they have any questions.

Practice - Practice- Practice:

• So your show and tell will be smooth and natural.

Present:

• Dress neatly. Food demonstrators should wear short sleeves, gloves and have hair pulled back or preferably in a hair net.
• Be sure everything is in place before you begin.
• Work quickly and neatly.
• Look at the audience, not down at the demonstration table or your notes too often !
• Speak naturally in a clear loud voice so your audience can hear you.
• Smile at your audience, relax and enjoy what you are doing.

-----------------------------------------
NOTE for Horse Presenters!!
* For horse presenters trying to go to regionals: 9-12 minutes.
* Horse team demonstrations: 10 – 15 minutes.
* Horse public speaking competitors: 7 – 10 minutes.

 

Guideline for presentation length: 1st year presenter - 3-5 minutes 2nd year presenter - 5-7 minutes 3rd year and older - 7-15 minutes These are not strict rules, just guides!!

NO PRESENTATION SHOULD BE LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES!!!

Tips For Giving A Food Presentation

• Make sure that the recipe is right for your ability level.
• Practice !!
• Wash your hands before beginning and wear hairnets and gloves.
• Use an apron.
• Cover any commercial labels that are showing, such as bottle of vanilla. White paper or masking tape placed over it works well.
• Label all ingredients.
• It is okay to pre-measure all but one dry ingredient and one liquid ingredient- label.
• Arrange ingredients on your tray in order you will be using them.
• Keep surfaces clean with waxed paper.
• Tape a small paper bag beside you on the table for peelings, egg shells, etc.
• Clean as you go!
• Practice more!!
• Use clear mixing bowls if available.
• Use proper measuring equipment.
• Include nutritional values, storage, as well as “how to’s”.
• If using a mixer, a towel under your bowl will deaden the sound.

Before you display your finished product, clean up everything. Cover your trays with matching towels and then display what you have made.

NOTE: All participants doing a food demonstration will be required to wear gloves and hair should either be pulled back in a hair net, scarf, or chef’s hat!!

***If you are doing a foods presentation, please contact the 4-H office for a copy of “How To Do A Food Demonstration”, a must for all food demonstrators!

When Should I Use A Poster or Chart?

Knowing when to use a poster or chart can be tricky. The main purpose of a poster or chart is to make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. A chart is used when a picture, such as a graph, best explains your topic. A poster is most useful when you want your audience to remember important facts or steps. Posters and charts should not be used to show the obvious.

Helpful Hints for Making A Good Poster!

• Use dark letters on white or light-colored paper.
• Make sure everything is large enough to see from the back row of a room.
• Make your poster in pencil first, and then trace over the letters with a dark marker.
• Use a ruler to keep your letters straight.
• Make your poster neat and easy to read.
• Do not put too much information on one poster or chart.

Source: Public Speaking Made Easy, Darlene Ortiz.

 

How Do I Choose A Topic?

Here are some tips for choosing a topic for presentations:

• List things you like to do at home or school and would like to show others.
• List projects your club has done.
• List community service projects you have done.
• Talk to your 4-H leader.
• Borrow resources available through the 4-H office.
• Come to the Public Presentation Workshop in January!!

Be daring! Choose a topic from a subject area you have never tried before! A first year presentation doesn’t have to be long – 5 minutes or less. No presentation should be longer than 15 minutes.

Public Presentations at Club Meetings

As your club prepares for the coming year, why not include a public presentation at an upcoming meeting. A public presentation or demonstration is an act of showing, telling or “selling” an idea. It is easy, simple, and painless! It is never too soon to begin preparing for your Public Presentation.

Older 4-H members could present demonstrations as a teaching tool for new members preparing for their first presentation.

 

Public Presentation Options Being Offered…

All 4-H’ers have the opportunity to select one of five types of presentations. The choices are Demonstration, Formal Speech, Illustrated Talk, Recitation or Dramatic Interpretation. What is the difference?

• Demonstration - The presenter shows and explains how to do or make something (how to juggle, make a kite, make cookies, care for a 4-H project animal, etc). Models or illustrations are used as needed to explain information, show the steps in the process being demonstrated, reveal finished products, etc. (Recommended for all ages).
• Formal Speech - The presenter aims to persuade, motivate, or inform the audience without the use of visuals. Proper use of note cards is acceptable. In this category, the presenter chooses and researches a topic of choice. Depending on the topic chosen, the presenter selects a format (persuasive, motivational, or informative) that best suits what is being conveyed to the audience. A Speech is written in the presenter’s own words; however poetry, quotations, humor, or imagery may be incorporated to command attention or emphasize a point. (Recommended for ages 15-19, grades 10-12).
• Illustrated Talk - The presenter uses visual aids to tell about the topic. The effective use of charts, pictures, posters, slides, PowerPoint slides, overheads, graphs, examples, models, etc., plays a major role in communicating the presenter’s message. (Recommended for ages 9 and up)
• Recitation - The presenter, with the use of vocal inflection and body language as communication tools, delivers his rendition of a piece of pre-written material. Props should not be used, but appropriate dress to subtly represent the character or mood of the written piece is acceptable. Dress should not overwhelm the oral presentation. Memorization is expected, but proper use of notes is permitted either in the form of note cards or a book. This area is not intended for presentation of original pieces of material written by the presenter.
• Dramatic Interpretation - The presenter or team of two delivers a re-enactment of a piece of scripted material. The content can be taken from plays, movies, sketches, or monologues--dramatic or comedic. This form of presentation, by definition, should include props and costumes. Props need to be simple and minimal, not detracting from the strength of the presenter(s). Original pieces written by the presenter(s) are accepted in this category, but 4-H educators should monitor appropriateness of presentation.

*For Horse Project Members - The options are individual presentations, team presentations, public speaking (no visuals), videotaped presentations and impromptu speaking (draw two topics out of a hat and talk about one of them). If you need more information, please contact Holly Harwood at 786-2251.

Public Presentation Workshop
Held in January at the Cooperative Extension Education Center

Come learn how fun and easy public presentations can be!! We will discuss choosing a topic, getting ready to do the presentation, how an effective poster should look, the three parts to a public presentation (introduction, body, and summary), what types of things the judges look for, plus other helpful hints on how to do a good job. We will also discuss the differences between a Demonstration and a Formal Speech.

Call the 4-H office at 786-2251 to register!!