Posted: August 17, 2026
Recently, members of Pennsylvania 4-H from across the state participated 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' scoresheets to practice and prepare for future speaking opportunities.
In the senior division of the public speaking contest, Pradhyun Srinivason, of Montgomery County, earned first place; Tyler Depman, of Montgomery County, took second place; and Emilia Bartlow, of Montour County, came in third place.
In the public speaking contest's junior division, Ritisha Modake, of Chester County, won first place; Saadhanna Renganathan, of Chester County, took second place; and Charles David Kay, of Union County, achieved third place.
For presentations, Annabelle Ewing, of Huntingdon County, earned first place in the senior division of the animal science category, while Myles Martin, of Lebanon County, earned first place in the category's junior division.
Zephan Samuel, of Butler County, won first place in the senior division of the environmental science category. Renganathan 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. Axel Adams, of Luzerne County, took first for the junior division.
Eli Wnek, of Westmoreland County, won the junior division of the general category.
Nidhi Suchindra, of Chester County, earned first place in the senior division of the healthy living category. Tenley Fetzer, of Lebanon County, won first place in the junior division.
In the STEM category, Issac Siegel, of Lebanon 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.
