Posted: September 3, 2025
More than 50 Pennsylvania 4-H members from across the state participated recently in statewide presentation and public speaking contests.
Held virtually, the contests were open to 4-H members ages 8-18. Members aged 8-13 participated in the junior division; the senior division was for ages 13-18.
The contest is designed to challenge the 4-H members' skills and knowledge of giving demonstrations or speeches and to recognize their abilities in giving presentations. The competition provides an opportunity for members to develop and use communication skills, develop self-confidence, research a topic, and teach and share their information with others.
The public speaking contest is intended to support county-level 4-H public speaking programs, challenge 4-H members' skills and knowledge in public speaking, and instill an understanding of the importance of communication skills.
Judges score participants and provide feedback during the contest. Participants can review the judges' score sheets to practice and prepare for future speaking opportunities.
- In the senior division of the public speaking contest, Annabelle Ewing, of Huntingdon County, earned first place; Zephan Samuel, of Butler County, took second place; and Adrian Davis, of Franklin County, came in third place.
- In the public speaking contest's junior division, Siobhain McHugh, of Bucks County, won first place; Rose Strausser, of Montgomery County, took second place; and Aniuta Gupta, of Chester County, achieved third place.
- For presentations, Maggie Haan, of Berks County, earned first place in the senior division of the animal science category, while Sara Forry, of Westmoreland County, earned first place in the category’s junior division.
- Sarah Davis, of Bucks County, won first place in the senior division of the environmental science category. Saadhana Renganathan, of Chester County, took first place in the junior division of the category.
- Ashlyn Breeneman, of Lancaster County, achieved first place in the senior division of the expressive arts category. Michael Siegel, of Lebanon County, took first for the junior division.
- In the general category, Gradyne Sanders, of Lebanon County, took first place in the senior division. Dash Adams, of Luzerne County, placed first in the category's junior division.
- Tenley Fetzer, of Lebanon County, won the junior division of the healthy living category.
- In the STEM category, Zephan Samuel won first place in the senior division, while Eli Wnek, of Westmoreland County, took first place in the junior division.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the United States Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
