Saskatoon, SK - The 2021 4-H Saskatchewan Provincial Public Speaking Competition was held virtually on May 15-16, 2021. 
 
Thirty-two 4-H members from across the province participated in the event, with the Cloverbud and Junior members presenting their speeches in the morning, and the Intermediate and Senior competitors presenting their speeches in the afternoon.
 
This was a unique event for 4-H Saskatchewan, with the organization facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic head on and moving the event to the Zoom platform instead of in-person. To make the event special for the 4-H members, each competitor was mailed out a care package, complete with local goodies from different parts of the province.
 
“I’m always so impressed with the quality of speeches, and the presence our speakers have, even from a young age, and this year was no different,” said Cera Youngson, executive director of 4-H Saskatchewan. “Our members rose to the challenge of presenting their speeches in a new way this year in a virtual live format. Each member should be proud of advancing to this prestigious “stage” through their club, district, and regional competitions.”
 
After much deliberation, the panel of judges determined the results to be:
 
Cloverbud Results
1st Place - Claire Galli, Melville Town ‘N Country 4-H Club (Yorkton) -  “A Job Involving My Furry Friends”
2nd Place - Kendele Noble, Durness Multi 4-H Club (Lloydminster) - “Don’t Eat Out of the Cheeto Bowl”
3rd Place - Teslyn Kajner, Meskanaw-Ethelton 4-H Beef Club (St. Brieux) - “Brothers”
 
Junior Results
1st Place - Mara Ward, Elcapo Lighthorse 4-H Club (Broadview) - “Coyote Hunting”
2nd Place - Hannah Hougham, Hillmond 4-H Beef Club (Frenchman Butte) - “Cattle, Carbon, & Climate”
3rd Place - Kain Fidelack, Kelvington 4-H Grain Club (Margo) - “Fake It Til You Make It”
 
Intermediate
1st Place - Olivia Keslick, Maple Creek Multiple 4-H Club (Maple Creek) - “Technology”
2nd Place - Marleigh Mann, Northminster 4-H Beef Club (Lloydminster) - “The Future of Sustainable Ag”
3rd Place - Isabelle Erickson, Elcapo Lighthorse 4-H Club (Wolseley) - “West Nile in Horses”
 
Senior
1st Place - Emma Bonk, Candiac 4-H Beef Club (Wolseley) - “Silence”
2nd Place - Codee Kopelchuk, Good Spirit 4-H Club (Canora) - “In the Ring”
3rd Place - Makenna Heidecker, Three Lakes 4-H Beef Club (Middle Lake) - “Learn to Do by Doing”
 
Thank you to our judges Patti Durand, Glenn Lapointe, Marlene Tymiak, Erin Toner, Alicia Sopatyk, Chloe Sprecker, Angela Letendre, Neil Billinger, and Blain Hjertaas for volunteering your time with us today.  It was greatly appreciated! Thank you to our prize sponsors Yvette Moore and Sheppard Realty for sponsoring the event. 
 
“I’d like to thank our dedicated volunteers and hosting committees who went above and beyond to host their club and district events in a new and modified ways during COVID, and my hardworking staff team for hosting the regional and provincial events this year,” Youngson said. “We’re optimistic for provincial public speaking to return to an in person format in Middle Lake, Saskatchewan in 2022.”

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​Please contact:
 
Jodi Schellenberg                                                                        
Program and Communications Specialist                   
306-933-6961                                                                           
communications@4-h.sk.ca