Public Speaking Contests 2017 Van Zandt County Fair Purpose: To encourage 4H and FFA members in Van Zandt County to strengthen their oral communication skills in order to better advocate for themselves, and for agriculture, in the future. Contest Entries: Students may enter 1, 2, or all 3 Speaking Contests for their age division. To be considered for the Supreme Speaking Champion, students must compete in both the Prepared and Extemporaneous speaking contests. Contest Entries must be turned in to Barbara Metch at the Farm Bureau office by the close of business on Friday, March 10, 2017. Students will pay a $10 entry fee per contest entered. Students may enter each speaking contest (Creed, Prepared, Extemp) 1 time each within the appropriate age division. FFA Chapters and 4H Clubs may have as many entries in each division as they would like.
Greenhand & Senior FFA CREED SPEAKING (Two Separate Contests) The FFA Creed outlines the FFA organizations beliefs regarding the agriculture industry. The purpose of the FFA Creed LDE is to not only develop the public speaking abilities FFA members but also to help preserve the heritage of our organization through competitive performance. The creed contest allows students to begin their speaking career and develop an understanding of the history of FFA and Agriculture. 1. The event will include an oral presentation as well as answering questions directly related to the Creed. 2. Members will present the FFA Creed from the current edition of the Official FFA Manual. 3. The event will be a timed activity with four minutes for presentation. After four minutes, contestant will be deducted one point for every second over set time. 4. The event will include oral questions. There will be a maximum of three questions per contestant with a time limit of five minutes. The same questions will be asked to all contestants. These questions will be thought-type questions directly related to the Creed. Two part questions should be avoided. 5. No props are to be used. 6. Each contestant must recite the FFA Creed from memory. Each contestant shall begin the presentation by stating. "The FFA Creed by E. M. Tiffany." Each contestant shall end the presentation with the statement, "... that inspiring task. Thank you." Any other words spoken as part of an introduction or conclusion shall be assessed a penalty deduction of twenty (20) points per word. Point deductions will only be taken after the judges indicate, You may begin. TIE BREAKER Ties will first be broken by total net scores and then by the score for answer to the questions. ELIGIBILITY The Greenhand Creed Speaking Event will be limited to students in grades 7, 8, or 9 who are taking their first year of ag classes. The Senior FFA Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event is open to all members.
Extemporaneous Speaking Contest Junior Level Division Only The Junior Extemporaneous Speaking Contest is designed to help foster the growth of oral communication skills in 4H and Jr. FFA members in grades 3-5. Contestants will not need to bring or prepare anything prior to the contest. Reference materials, notecards, and writing utensils will be provided by the contest. Contestants will be provided a topic to speak on, as well as 3 pieces of reference material from which to draw the body of their speech. They will have 20 minutes to prepare for the contest after they receive their materials. Contestants should be prepared to introduce their topic, provide examples from the reference materials or the student s personal experiences, and wrap up the speech in the form of a conclusion. For Junior Speakers (Grades 3-5) Each speech shall be no less than two (2) no more than four (4) minutes. A 30-second warning shall be provided via a timecard from the timekeeper or a judge for contestants in the Extemporaneous Speaking Development Event. Such a warning shall be provided when the contestant has 30 seconds remaining before going beyond the time allotment. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being over four minutes or under two minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time.
Extemporaneous Speaking Contest Intermediate and Senior Level Divisions The purpose of this event is to develop the ability of all 4H & FFA members to express themselves on a given subject without having to prepare or rehearse its content in advance. 1.The first competitor will have their reference material screened ten minutes prior to reporting to the holding room. 2.The first selection of topics shall be held thirty minutes before the event. The contestant will draw three specific topics relating to the industry of agriculture and will select one. After the first contestant selects a topic, all three topics will be returned to the original group of topic areas. The next contestant will then draw three topics and then select a topic. This process continues for each contestant. Each contestant shall have 30 minutes of preparation time prior to their performance. 3.Six topics shall be prepared by the superintendent of the event and will include two each from the following categories: (a) agriscience and technology, (b) agri-marketing, and international agricultural relations, and (c) food and fiber systems. 4.When not preparing or performing, contestants will remain sequestered in a holding area until after they perform. The first contestant will be admitted to the preparation room at 30 minutes prior to the event and subsequent contestants at 15-minute intervals. 5.Reference material will be screened by the officials in charge of the event on the following basis: a.must be printed material such as books or magazines (cannot be notes or speeches prepared by the students or notes prepared by another person for use for this event.) Materials from industry or academic websites may be used. Authorship of the printed internet material may be subject to verification by the superintendent. URL, copyright, or official website header. b.shall be limited to three items. To be counted as one item, a notebook or folder of collected items containing NO more than 100 pages (page size should not exceed a typical page of books and manuscripts which is 8 ½ x 11 and should be one-sided only); books, newspapers, and magazines are acceptable under the discretion of the Extemporaneous Speaking Superintendent. All five items may consist of separate notebooks. A typed table of contents or tabs may be utilized but shall be counted as a part of the 100 page limit. 6.Each speech shall be the result of the contestant s own effort using approved reference material which the contestant may bring to the preparation room. No other assistance may be provided. The event superintendent shall provide all note cards used by contestants. Any notes for speaking must be made during the 30-minute preparation period.
7. For Intermediate Speakers (Grades 6 8) Each speech shall be no less than three (3) no more than five (5) minutes with five (5) minutes additional time allowed for related questions, which shall be asked by the judges. A 30-second warning shall be provided via a timecard from the timekeeper or a judge for contestants in the Extemporaneous Speaking Development Event. Such a warning shall be provided when the contestant has 30 seconds remaining before going beyond the fiveminute time allotment. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being over five minutes or under three minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time. 8. For Senior Speakers (Grades 9-12) Each speech shall be no less than four (4) nor more than six (6) minutes with five (5) minutes additional time allowed for related questions, which shall be asked by the judges. A 30-second warning shall be provided via a timecard from the timekeeper or a judge for contestants in the Extemporaneous Speaking Development Event. Such a warning shall be provided when the contestant has 30 seconds remaining before going beyond the six-minute time allotment. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being over six minutes or under four minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time.
Prepared Speaking Contest Junior, Intermediate and Senior Level Divisions 1. For Junior Speakers (Grades 3-5) Each speech shall be no less than two (2) nor more than four (4) minutes with three (3) minutes additional time allowed for related questions, which shall be asked by the judges. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being more than four (4) minutes or less than two (2) minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time. 2. For Intermediate Speakers (Grades 6 8) Each speech shall be no less than four (4) nor more than six (6) minutes with three (3) minutes additional time allowed for related questions, which shall be asked by the judges. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being more than six (6) minutes or less than four (4) minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time. 3. For Senior Speakers (Grades 9-12) Each speech shall be no less than six (6) nor more than eight (8) minutes with five (5) minutes additional time allowed for related questions, which shall be asked by the judges. Contestants will be penalized one point per second on each judge's score sheet for being more than eight (8) minutes or less than six (6) minutes. Time commences when the contestant begins speaking. Contestants may use a wristwatch only to keep record of time. *The number of contestants entered in each division will determine the number of contest rooms and the need for finalists. Contestants will be directed as to the procedures to be followed at an orientation held prior to the beginning of the contest. 4. The following description for each speech division is provided to the participants as a suggested guideline for that division and in no way meant to be all inclusive. It is the responsibility of the participant to select subject matter appropriate and acceptable to the judges. Obviously, all subject matter should have ties to the 4H/FFA Program. Designated Prepared Public Speaking Divisions: a.animal Science: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with any aspect of the industries of dairy, equine, poultry, sheep, swine, beef, specialty animals, etc. b.plant Science: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with any aspect of horticulture and/or agronomy industries. This may include such areas as floriculture, fruit and or/vegetable production, nursery operations, turf and landscape management, crop production, specialty crop production, etc.
c.natural Resources: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as soil, water, air, rural water, wildlife, forestry, aquaculture, conservation, recreation, recycling, energy, environmental issues, etc. d.agribusiness: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as cooperatives, sales, service, journalism, communications, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, commodities, futures, hedging, advertising, etc. e.agricultural Policy: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as domestic farm issues, international trade, rural economic development, politics, animal rights, law, subsidies, price supports, etc. f.agriscience: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as biotechnology, biogenetics, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, farm safety, use of technology, research, laser, satellites, computers, embryo transfer, etc. g.other: Participants may choose a topic not otherwise specified in any of the previous categories, provided that it is representative of some portion of the FFA / 4H program.
Supreme Speaking Contest Junior, Intermediate and Senior Level Divisions To be named Supreme Speaking Champion, contestants must enter both the extemporaneous speaking and prepared speaking contest in their age division. Their respective ranks in each contest against the other supreme speaking candidates will be totaled. The contestant with the lowest total ranking in each age division will be named the supreme speaking champion. Example: Contestant # Prepared Rank Extemporaneous Rank Total of Ranks 1 5 3 8 2 2 1 3 3 4 4 8 4 3 2 5 5 1 5 6 In this scenario, contestant #2 has the lowest total of ranks, and would be named the Supreme Champion Speaker. Contestant #4 would be named Reserve Supreme Champion Speaker. Tie Breaker: In the event of a tie for Champion or Reserve, the speaker with the highest score for the questions portion of their prepared speech shall be named the winner of the tie.
Speaking Contest Entry Form Individual Please Complete 1 form per student competing in any part of the VZCF Speaking Contest Student Name FFA Chapter or 4H Club Grade in School Speaking Contests to Enter: Circle All That Apply JR Creed Is this your 1 st year to take an ag class? JR Prepared Jr Extemporaneous SR Creed SR Prepared Sr Extemporaneous Speaking Entries are $10 each. Prepared Speech Topic (if applicable) *Prepared Speech Manuscripts must accompany Entry Form Total Number of Speaking Entries for this Contestant Total Entry Fees Due for this Contestant
Speaking Contest Entry Form Chapter or Club Chapter or Club Name Contact Person for Speaking Entry Questions Best Phone # to call with Speaking Entry Questions Junior Speaker s Name Jr Prepared Entry Jr Extemp Entry Total Jr Prepared Entries Total Jr Extemp Entries Intermediate Speaker s Name Jr Creed Entry Int Prepared Entry Int Extemp Entry Total Jr Creed Entries Total Intermediate Prepared Entries Total Intermediate Extemp Entries Senior Speaker s Name Sr Creed Entry Sr Prepared Entry Sr Extemp Entry Total Sr Creed Entries Total Sr Prepared Entries Total Sr Extemp Entries Total Entry Fees Due for Club / Chapter ($10 per entry)