Levi Overend poses with his poster after delivering a blue-ribbon worthy presentation at the annual 4-H Public Presentation Day.

CASSADAGA — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program recently held a Public Presentation contest at Cassadaga Valley Middle School on March 9, 2019. Over 50 youth ages 5-18 stepped up to the challenge and gave presentations on topics ranging from sea steading, animal assisted therapy, to unicorns. Presentation styles included demonstration, illustrated talk, speech, dramatic interpretation, and recitation.

Public speaking aligns with the New York State 4-H Youth Development values that promote the development of skills that help young people succeed in higher education, their chosen career path, and as members of their families and communities. Youth are evaluated by teams of volunteer evaluators. After each presentation youth meet with their evaluators and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their presentation.

Youth who gave exceptional presentations were selected to participate at the Western District Public Presentation Day contest held at the Watermark Wesleyan Church in Hamburg on March 30th. This year Matthew Brown, Corinne Covert, Jack Fortna, Katherine Fortna, Alyssa Graziano, and Adam Lesch were selected to participate at the Western District level. All youth representing Chautauqua County received gold awards, the highest award for presenters. The top ten presenters at the district level will move on to the New York State 4-H Communications Institute, a two day public speaking workshop held at Cornell University in June.

Youth have other opportunities to give presentations at their club and animal projects as well as at the 4-H Youth Building at the Chautauqua County Fair.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua . Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.