Do your knees knock and you break out in a cold sweat when you are asked to speak in front of a group of people? If so, I bet you were never in 4-H, and I bet you never participated in public speaking contests.

Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the most common fears of adults. Even those people who frequently find themselves in front of groups often get nervous and uneasy. Those people who had the opportunity to practice their public speaking skills when they were young usually have much less problems than others.

For the past several weeks our 4-H staff has been coordinating the Annual 4-H Public Speaking Contest at the Extension Center in Lumberton. Those youth with enough nerve to participate are divided into three different groups, so youth do not have to compete against much older youth. The cloverbuds, ages 5 - 8, and the seniors, ages 13 - 18, competed on Monday, February 18. The juniors, ages 9 - 12, competed on Monday, February 25.

It was amazing to see these young people go to the podium with all the confidence in the world. Although it was obvious that some of them were nervous, each of them did an outstanding job of presenting a 5-minute speech on the topic of their choice. I'm just glad I was not a judge, because some of the speeches were outstanding.

Another annual event that helps young people develop personal skills will be held next Saturday, March 16. Four-H youth from around the county will be participating in 4-H Entertains and 4-H Fashion Revue. Talent presentations by individuals or groups and the opportunity to model garments they have made at home are fantastic ways for young people to develop confidence and gain experience in front of an audience.

The above examples are just a few of the ways that 4-H helps young people develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives. I guess I am somewhat biased, because I was once a 4-H'er and because 4-H is available through our Extension Center, but I feel strongly that there are very few opportunities for young people that are more valuable than 4-H.

Four-H differs from many other youth groups in that a full-time staff of highly trained professionals provide support for the youth and their educational programs and support and training for the volunteer leaders who work with these youth out in their own communities. This staff is supported by the 4-H and Youth Development Department at North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University.

The problem we have is that there are too few adults who are willing to devote a few hours of their time each month to provide leadership for community 4-H clubs. Every parent should seek ways they can help their child become better adults, and there is no better way than 4-H.

Parents of children between the ages of 5 and 19 who are interested in getting their children involved in 4-H are encouraged to contact the 4-H office by calling 671-3276. If there is already a community club in your area, the 4-H staff members will provide the information and assistance you may need to help your child become a part of a community 4-H club that is already functioning. If there is not a 4-H club in your community, this same staff will be more than willing to work with you and other parents in your community to start a 4-H club.

Most 4-H clubs meet monthly, although they can meet as frequently as the youth and the adult leaders wish. Some of the clubs in our county meet twice monthly, and a couple of them meet every week. Dues and special uniforms are not required for 4-H membership, so cost should not be a limiting factor to get children involved in 4-H.

Many people think that 4-H is just for kids in rural areas. This is far from the truth. Although some of our 4-H members do live in rural areas, most of our current 4-H members live in urban areas. In fact, some of our strongest and most effective 4-H clubs are located in the cities around the county.

The primary purpose of 4-H is to help youth reach their highest potential, no matter where they live. Some youth in rural areas may be involved in animal science projects, but all 4-H youth can be involved in activities such as public speaking, talent shows, fashion revues, citizenship, gardening, and a host of other things that all kids find interesting.

Limited space in this column does not allow me to describe all the various activities that our current 4-H members are involved in. Call our office for more information. If you have children between the ages of 5 and 19, do them a favor. Get them involved in 4-H.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 3/26/02