Talking points: Cornell hosts a statewide 4-H public-speaking contest

By Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.

Teenagers from all over New York state are talking their heads off on topics from beef cattle to babysitting. They have been competing for a place in this year's 4-H State Public Presentations, a public-speaking event to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, at noon in Morrison Hall on campus.

Middle school and high school students have been giving talks and demonstrations at the local and regional levels, and those with the best gifts of gab have advanced to the state event at Cornell, where they will represent their counties. The speaking competition will award gold, silver and bronze medals to winners in the demonstration, speech, illustrated talk and dramatic interpretation categories. Participating will be 67 presenters from 38 counties, with each county allowed to send up to three presenters in three categories.

Presentations by New York state regional winners will cover topics such as: the West Nile virus, by Ashley Pierce of Cobleskill; the dangers and fun of babysitting preschool children, by Maria Agnello of Waterloo; the economics of the beef cattle industry, by Kyle Lowery of Savona; the history of rock and roll, by Kenneth Benson of Greene and Nathaniel Scull of Vestal; snowboarding, by Matthew Tucker of Cato; how to make "Grahammy" award-winning cheesecake, by Colleen White of Auburn; and how to make a polar fleece pillow, by Caitlin Henning of Macedon. Sarah Hunt, from Yorktown Heights, will explain how she got her dog, and Donna Partlin, of Airmount, will discuss dog agility.

The 4-H speaking program has shown to have a positive effect on teens' schoolwork, said Dianne Walter, Cornell program coordinator for the 4-H public presentations. "Our program is heralded by teachers who have seen how well this affects young people," she said.