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What topic should I pick for my public presentation?

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Public speaking is one of the most useful skills developed in 4-H.  Public presentations are also a great way to learn about a topic of interest and share it with others in your club and county.  One of the most important decisions members make each year is the topic for their presentation.  For goat clubs, this is the perfect chance for 4-Hers to learn more about the STEM involved in their project.  Clubs that feature one or two public presentations at each of their monthly club meetings create a great environment for all of the club members to learn about their shared project area.  But how do you determine the topic of your presentation?  One option is to have a brainstorming session during one of your club meetings.  Here are some possible topic areas to get you thinking.

  • Breeds
  • Diseases
  • Fiber Goats
  • Hoof Trimming
  • Kidding
  • Milking
  • Nutrition and Feeding
  • Parasites
  • Parts of a Goat
  • Products from Goats
  • Reproduction
  • Ruminant Digestion
  • Selection
  • Tattooing
  • Toxic Plants
  • Types of Injections

Obviously, this is just the start of a long list of potential topics for your presentations.  As you go throughout your time in 4-H, you’ll have the chance to explore many areas of animal science.  All 4-H members deliver presentations each year at the club level and are strongly encouraged to also present at their local county public presentations event.  Members may choose to prepare and deliver one of four types of presentations – demonstration, illustrated talk, formal speech, and performing arts.  Demonstrations and illustrated talks are the most common.  A guide and a video about preparing and giving 4-H presentations are both available from Rutgers 4-H.

4-H members in 8th grade and above may qualify to advance to the state public presentations event held at Rutgers-New Brunswick each June.   This year’s state-level public presentations event is scheduled for Saturday, June 9 at Hickman Hall.  To participate at the state event, members must receive an excellent rating on their presentation at the county level and register through their county office.  Good luck!

By Chad Ripberger, Mercer County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension