2008 State Speaking Contest Results

• General Rules
• Public Speaking Rules and Scoring
• Individual/Team Presentation Contest Rules and Scoring
• Entry Form (pdf)
• Schedule and Directions to Contest

General Rules:

1. The champion senior contestant(s) are not eligible to compete in the same division of this contest in subsequent years.  The only exception would be if they also were on a champion Horse Bowl, Hippology, Judging Team or champion in another Speaking division that same year.  In that case, they can chose which other event they will represent Ohio in at the Eastern National Contest and could repeat the same division of this contest in following years.  We expect that the champion speaker(s) will represent Ohio at the Eastern National Contest.
2. A county may enter as many contestants as they desire.  State Junior winners may return in the same contest in subsequent years.
3. The youth must be enrolled in 4-H in the county they represent.
4. Senior Division: Contestants must be at least 14 years of age but not yet have achieved their 19th birthday on January 1 of the current year. Junior division: Contestants must be less than 14 years of age on January 1 of current year.
5. Subject must pertain to the horse industry.
6. Awards for first through fifth place in Public Speaking and Individual Demonstrations, first through third place in Team Demonstrations - participation awards to all contestants. Ties will be broken first by delivery score, second by organization score, third by content and accuracy score.
7. At the event, contestants may introduce themselves with name, name of county, brief background and topic.
8. Entry deadline: April 15th of contest year. Entry form should be sent to Amber Moffett, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1095. Entry should include name, county, address, phone number and name of topic. There is a $5 entry fee per contestant ($15 per Team). Checks should be made out to the State 4-H Horse Committee.  Each entry will receive one parking pass.  If additional parking passes are needed, please indicate how many additional passes are needed and include that amount with entry fee to the State Office.
9. Only the judges may ask questions of the contestant in the contest. Question time will not be counted in the allotted time. Contestants should repeat and then answer the question.
10. Senior Division speeches should be 7 to 10 minutes in length for public speaking, 9 to 12 minutes for individual presentations, and 10 to 15 minutes for team demonstrations. Junior division speeches should be 4 to 7 minutes in length for public speaking, 6 to 9 minutes for individual presentations, and 7 to 12 minutes for team demonstrations. Points will be subtracted for less than or excess of time. Three (3) points will be deducted from each judge's score card for each minute or fraction of a minute outside the allotted time.
11. Contestants may use notes. Excessive use of notes may be counted against the contestant. This will be at the discretion of the judge or judges.
12. Contestants should cite their major references at the conclusion of their speech. This time is not counted in the allotted time.

13. Schedule for contests:  Registration is from 8:30 to 9:00am for Senior Contestants and 12:00 to 1:00pm for Junior Contestants.  The Senior contest will begin at 9am and the Junior contest will begin as close to 1pm as possible and after the Senior contest.

14. Contest will be held at the OSU Animal Sciences Building (2029 Fyffe Road).  Take Route 315 through Columbus.  When you get to the University area, exit at Lane Avenue; go East to the first intersection (Fyffe Rd).  Turn south onto Fyffe.  At the intersection, Fyffe and Woody Hayes, turn right and then left at the next intersection and then enter the first parking lot on the left side ot get to the Animal Sciences building.

1. No visual aids may be used.
2. Public speaker will not use a public address system.
3. A podium may be provided.
4. Criteria for scoring will be as follows:
   1. Introduction 10 pts.
      1. Did the introduction serve to create interest in the subject?
      2. Was the introduction short and to the point?
   2. Organization 15 pts.
      1. Were the main points easy to follow?
      2. Were the main points arranged in the best order?
      3. Were the sentences short and easy to understand?
      4. Was the speech interesting?
   3. Content and Accuracy 20 pts.
      1. Were the facts and information accurate?
      2. Was there enough information concerning the subject?
      3. Was credit given to the sources of information, if appropriate?
      4. Was the content appropriately related to the horse industry?
   4. Stage Presence 15 pts.
      1. Was the speaker neat and appropriately dressed?
      2. Did the speaker talk directly to and look at the audience?
      3. Was the speaker's posture erect, but not stiff?
      4. Did the speaker refrain from leaning on the podium?
      5. Did the speaker seem relaxed and at ease?
   5. Delivery 20 pts.
      1. Did the speaker have appropriate voice control?
      2. Were words pronounced correctly?
      3. Did the speaker's facial expressions reflect the mood of the speech?
      4. If notes were used, was it done without detracting from the speech?
      5. Did the speaker seem to choose words at the time they were spoken as opposed to a memorized or read-type delivery?
   6. General 10 pts.
      1. Did the speaker convey to the audience a sense of wanting to communicate?
      2. Did the speech reflect the thoughts and personality of the speaker?
   7. Conclusion 10 pts.
      1. Was the conclusion short and interesting?
      2. Did the conclusion properly wrap up the speech?
      3. Could the speaker handle the questions easily?

1. A team is two members.
2. This must be a demonstration or an illustrated presentation. No live animals may be used.
3. Demonstrators will not use a public address system.
4. Two tables and two easels will be supplied by the contest. Other materials will need to be brought by the contestants.
5. Criteria by which Presentation Contests will be judged:
   1. Introduction 10 pts.
      1. Did the introduction serve to create interest in the subject?
      2. Was the introduction short and to the point?
   2. Organization 25 pts.
      1. Was only one main idea demonstrated?
      2. Did the discussion relate directly to each step as it was shown?
      3. Was each step shown just as it should be done in an actual situation or was an explanation given for any discrepancies?
      4. Could the audience see each step?
      5. Were the materials and equipment carefully selected, neatly arranged and well-organized?
      6. Were charts and posters used if and when they were needed?
      7. Were the key points for each step stressed?
   3. Content and Accuracy 25 pts.
      1. Were the facts and information accurate?
      2. Was there enough information concerning the subject?
      3. Was credit given to the sources of information, if appropriate?
      4. Was the content appropriately related to the horse industry?
   4. Stage Presence 10 pts.
      1. Was the demonstrator neat and appropriately dressed for the subject of the demonstration?
      2. Did the demonstrator talk directly to and look at the audience?
      3. Was the demonstration too fast or too slow?
   5. Delivery 15 pts.
      1. Did the demonstrator appear to enjoy giving the demonstration?
      2. Did the demonstrator have good voice control?
      3. Were words pronounced correctly?
      4. If notes were used, was it done without detracting from the speech?
      5. Did the demonstrator seem to choose words at the time they were spoken as opposed to a memorized demonstration?
   6. Effect on Audience 5 pts.
      1. Did the audience show an interest in the demonstration?
      2. Could the audience go home and carry out the idea?
   7. Conclusion 10 pts.
      1. Was the conclusion short and interesting?
      2. Were the key points briefly reviewed?
      3. Did the conclusion properly wrap up the speech?
      4. Could the demonstrator handle the questions easily?