5th Annual NorthEast States 4-H SpeakUp Fest

Recently, NY participated in the 5^th Annual NorthEast States 4-H SpeakUp Fest. The Northeast States 4-H Speak Up Fest is an annual virtual event designed to empower youth ages 13 - 19 from across the Northeastern United States to enhance and showcase their communication skills. Organized through a collaborative effort among 4-H programs in the region, the event provides a supportive platform for young people to engage in public speaking. 

Participants are selected based on their performance in state-level 4-H public speaking events and represents states including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The event features two main categories in public speaking:

• Illustrated Talks/Demonstrations

• Formal Speeches

Youth deliver presentations on topics they are passionate about or interested in ranging from agriculture and science to personal experiences and creative storytelling. 

A key component of the Speak Up Fest is the constructive feedback provided by trained evaluators and peers, which helps participants refine their communication abilities and build confidence. The event not only celebrates the achievements of young speakers but also fosters personal growth, leadership, and the development of lifelong skills essential for academic and career success. 

This year's event was held on Saturday, October 4th with 29 youth participating, 5 being from NY. This event also featured a capnote presentation by the National 4-H Youth In Action winner, Kingston Ryals.

We would like to give a huge congratulations to all youth who competed and to NY 4-H'er Nathaniel M. who placed first for his presentation on Gliding.

The hope is to grow this event into a national, in person event and we look forward to seeing NY continue to participate in the future!

For more information visit: https://sites.google.com/view/northeast4-hspeakupfest/home