ST. PAUL - The top speakers and presenters from five 4-H clubs in the St. Paul district came together at Portage College on Sunday for their district completion, which determines who will move on to the North East 4-H Region competition on March 21.
A total of 13 speakers in three age groups and five individual and one pair of presenters impressed an array of knowledgeable judges with their well researched and interesting topics, which ranged from livestock raising of many kinds to environmental issues.
Presenters, their families and judges convened in a room down the hall and speakers took to the stage stage in the college gymnasium before both groups joined to hear the decisions of the judges, with the winners announced by master of ceremonies Addison Champagne and receiving their awards from Christian Lavoie, who emceed the presentations.
“We had a really hard time picking the winners,” said Philip Ng, who judged the presenters along with John Kennett and Karol Cabaj-Martin. “It was crazy close.”
First place in the Junior division of the Presentations competition went to brothers Kurt and Ethan Yaremko of the St. Paul Multi Club, who explained the process of “Raising Chickens,” while Shyanne Klatt of Elk Point 4-H Beef Club was second with ‘Inside Outside, Outside Inside,” an exploration of equine colic.
In the Intermediate age group, Rhiana Champagne of St. Paul Multi demonstrated her love of chess with “Long Live the King,” for first place, with Elk Point Beef’s Shaylyn Klatt taking second with her colorful display on peafowl entitled “Crown of the Pride.”
Rebecca Kotowich of St. Lina Beef chose a very timely topic for her very informative presentation on vaping issues and peer pressure, “Vaporized Dilemma”, to place first in the Senior group, while Lexi Wirsta of Elk Point Multi presented a photographic travelogue of “An Adventure” - her visit to Costa Rica, for second place.
Michelle Dargis spoke on behalf of the nine judges who adjudicated the speakers, echoing Ng’s sentiments and noting there was “very stiff competition” between the speakers, who chose topics “they were enthusiastic and passionate about, and took strong stands,” in addition to having “a great selection of impromptu topics” to choose from. Speech judges included Ellie Peters, Lynn Woytiuk, Lily Belland, Leanne Betts, Lana Macdonald, Sajrenka Kuryliw, Janine Huber and Kellie Nichiporik.
In the Junior division, Savannah Fontaine of St. Paul Multi took first place with a prepared speech on “My Favourite Place,” Big Fork, Montana, combined with an impromptu on “My most hated hour of the day.” Second place went to Hailey Danyluk of Elk Point Beef, who told the story of “The Journey of My First 4-H Project” and added an impromptu on ‘Chores.” Emma-Anne Miller of Boscombe Multi, Morris Amyotte of St. Lina Beef and Gareth Jacula of Goodridge Beef also competed in the Junior group.
This year’s top Intermediate speaker was Mercedes Trefanenko of St. Paul Multi, who called being the middle child in the family “The Best Part of the Oreo,” and spoke glowingly of “The Value of School Sports” in her impromptu. Jove Boorse of Elk Point Beef spoke knowingly about train tracks in “Gauge the Distance” and thought hard about ”Skills I Would Like to Learn” in his impromptu for second place. Alayna Dechaine of St. Lina Beef and Jorja Hagen of Goodridge Beef also spoke in this group.
“The Toxicity of High School Hierarchy” was the winning topic in the Senior division for Kaydence Hagen of Goodridge Beef, whose impromptu emphasized the need for “More Agriculture Education in Schools.” Second place went to Ashlynn Trefanenko of St. Paul Multi, who urged her listeners to “Open Our Eyes and Take Action” on plastic waste materials, followed up with an impromptu on “How I Benefitted From 4-H.” Brooke Kotowich of Elk Point Beef and Ry-Anne Dechaine of St. Lina Beef also spoke in the Senior division.
The District Communications event was sponsored by Servus Credit Union and Altalink.
