4-H encourages communication skills

Logan and Katie Johnson performed a puppet show.

Speaking contest participants included (left to right): FRONT Logan Johnson, of Dayton Community 4-H Club; Melody Taggart, Country Pride; Abbey Acker; Wolf River Rascals; BACK Nat Emmert, Friendly Valley; Ted Emmert, Friendly Valley; Alison Acker, Wolf River Rascals; and Alex Lederer, Country Pride. Submitted Photo

Brigid Elliott, Sandy Knoll 4-H, performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Submitted photo

Halina and Esther Burnett, of Woodland Badgers 4-H, performed a vocal duet. Submitted photo

Brooklyn Grimm performed a piano solo. Submitted Photo

Youths perform skits, dance, sing, play instruments

By Penny Tank

A piano solo was presented by Grace Peterson at the 4H talent contest.

Little Wolf High School was the site of the 2016 Waupaca County 4-H Music, Drama and Speaking Contest, sponsored by the 4-H Leaders’ Association.

The contest gives 4-H members another opportunity to learn how to work as teams, gain self-confidence, share their talents and improve speaking skills.

One of the comments most often mentioned by former 4-H members is that 4-H taught them how to feel more comfortable communicating and speaking in public. Their practice and experience ranges from interviewing for trips, sharing ideas at 4-H community club meetings, teaching at project meetings, giving demonstrations, being a camp counselor and participating in the 4-H Music, Drama and Speaking Contest.

Individuals or small groups could perform dances, instrumental pieces, vocal numbers, skits, puppet shows, and more.

Participants included: Courtney Rowley, of Baldwin’s Mill 4-H Club, dance; Destiny Kempf, Country Pride, flute instrumental entitled “Night Gypsy;” Alex Lederer and Joshua Barnett, Country Pride, vocal solos; Brooklyn Grimm, Country Pride, and Grace Peterson, Dayton Community, piano; Logan and Katie Johnson, Dayton Community, puppet show called “Crop Planting Past, Present and Future;” Esther and Halina Burnett, Woodland Badgers, vocal duet; and Brigid Elliott, Sandy Knoll, novelty performance entitled “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

Members had the opportunity to be selected to perform at the Wisconsin State Fair in August. Selected this year were Joshua Barnett, Alex Lederer, Courtney Rowley and Destiny Kempf.

Also being held this same morning was the Waupaca County Speaking Contest. Members could choose to perform poetry, prose, storytelling or original speeches.

Participants included Melody Taggart and Alex Lederer, Country Pride; Alison Acker and Abbey Acker, Wolf River Rascals; Ted Emmert and Nat Emmert, Friendly Valley; and Logan Johnson, Dayton Community 4-H.

The Waupaca County 4-H Leaders’ Association sponsored awards for the performances as well as to Karyn Pamperin and Monica Nohr for judging the music and drama performances, and Carrie Gruman for judging the speaking contest.

For information on this and other 4-H and Youth Development activities in Waupaca County, contact Penny Tank at the UW-Extension Office at 715-258-6230, [email protected] or visit waupaca.uwex.edu.