Students excel at 4-H Communication Days

Perhaps among the group of 4-H presenters is a future orator of great skill.

Maybe the next entrepreneur will one day credit the Sanders County 4-H group for helping him/her develop the confidence it takes to make it big in the world of business.

One thing is for certain, the creativity and resourcefulness displayed by this year's 4-H Communication Days finalists is a creative endeavor that presents the opportunity to future leaders to hone their public presentation skills.

And for the winners of the Sanders County competition held this past Sunday in Plains, competing has rewards many youngsters do not have access to.

Seventeen members made it to the county finals, with five senior 4-Hers moving on to the State Finals in conjunction with the State 4-H Congress this July in Bozeman. And the top four junior division competitors out of 12 who competed this past weekend won a scholarship for the Multi-County 4-H Camp this summer (June) in Bigfork.

“The presentations were exceptional and I look forward to seeing how the members do at the state competition”, said Jill Thurston, a member of the Montana State University Extension service, who were part of the competition in a number of ways. “I think they will be very competitive.”

Each competitor had 15 minutes to present what they had learned about a topic they chose. Many of those topics were interesting to say the least, such as the presentation made by junior division entrant Emma Rehbein, who told those in attendance “How to Take Care of a Unicorn”.

Other junior division topics included “Demystifying the "Home Made Bagel” presented by Anaelle Avilla, and Samantha Hofstetter’s presentation entitled “Fulfilling and Delectable Spinach Salad”.

Among the senior winners was a first-place winning presentation on “The Danger Zone”, presented by Makiah Cook, and the “Women of Agriculture” talk by Hot Springs sophomore Kara Christensen, who also was a first place winner.

Other junior winners included: Colt Browning, a top four finisher for his “Propagation Station” presentation; Katherine Wrobleski, “Ankle Injuries”; Ailie Villa, “Understanding the Language of Music”; John McNamara, “Opportunity for All”; and Moriah Champneys, “Got Milk?”

In addition to Makiah Cook and Christensen’s presentations, senior winners included: Melodie Cook, “The Art of Public Speaking”; Cody Hafner, “How to Survive Calving Season”, and Claire Wrobleski, “Goals, Be Smart About It”.

The presentations were hosted by Plains Schools and held in classrooms at the school.

    Top finishers in the senior division of the 4-H Communication Days event in Plains last week were (left to right): Mikiah Cook, Cody Hafner, Clair Wrobleski, Kara Christensen, and Melodie Cook'