On Sunday, April 19th, the 4-H Staff from the North Panhandle hosted the annual Communications Contest at Nebraska Extension Sheridan County Office. Youth, between the ages of 5 to 18, from Box Butte, Dawes, and Sheridan Counties had the opportunity to participate in an Illustrated Presentation, Prepared Speech, Public Service Announcement, or Video Communications Contest.
In the Illustrated Presentation Contest, Julia Nicholson of Dawes County received a purple and was selected as Champion in the Senior Division for Dawes. Ayla Foster of Box Butte County also gave an Illustrated Presentation on Needle Felting and was selected Champion with a purple ribbon.
In the Prepared Speech Division for the Seniors in Box Butte County, Eden Foster was selected as Grand Champion and Ayla Foster was award Reserve Champion both with purples. In Dawes County Senior division, Miranda Betson received Grand Champion and Garett Tollman was award Reserve Champion, with purples. In the Intermediate Prepared Speech Division, Callin Foster from Box Butte County received Grand Champion with a purple and Willow Frink from Sheridan County also received Grand Champion with a purple. In the Junior division, Mara Foster of Box Butte County was awarded Grand Champion with a purple, Wyatt Redden from Dawes County also received Grand Champion with a purple, and Cedar Frink from Sheridan County was awarded Grand Champion with a purple. There were two Clover Kid participants, Jarrett Redden and Taitt Redden of Dawes County that participated.
In the Public Service Announcement category, all of the participants were from Dawes County. In the Senior division, Grand Champion was awarded to Miranda Betson and Reserve Champion to Amelia Betson. Receiving purples were Roudy Schommer and Oakley Terrell. In the Intermediate division, Rhett Lesmeister was awarded Grand Champion with a purple. Tinley Lesmeister received Grand Champion with a purple in the Junior division.
Youth members receiving a purple are eligible to attend the state Premier Communications Contest held in Lincoln, Nebraska on June 16th and 17th. The 4-H Box Butte County eligible participants are Ayla Foster with her Presentation and Speech, Eden Foster, Callin Foster, and Mara Foster. Dawes County eligible participants consist of Julia Nicholson, Amelia Betson, Miranda Betson with her speech and PSA, Garett Tollman, Wyatt Redden, Roudy Schommer, Oakley Terrell, Rhett Lesmeister, and Tinley Lesmeister. The Sheridan County eligible participants are Cedar and Willow Frink.
A huge thank you to KCSR/KBPY for helping Dawes County 4-H members record their Public Service Announcements. There are several sponsors who help make this contest possible. A huge thank you to the Box Butte County sponsors: Winding River Ranch for sponsoring Champion Senior Speech, Sand Canyon Therapy for sponsoring Reserve Champion Senior Speech and Champion Intermediate Speech, Gene’s Firewood for sponsoring Champion Junior Speech, and the Box Butte 4-H Council for sponsoring Champion Presentation. Thank you to the Dawes County sponsors: the Memorial of Walt and Lola Speirs for sponsoring the Champion Senior Speech award, Corn Valley 4-H Club for sponsoring the Champion Intermediate Speech award, Happy Hustlers 4-H Club for sponsoring the Champion Junior Speech award, Crawford Clipper-Harrison Sun for sponsoring the Champion Senior PSA, Dyer Ranch, Mike and Bev Dyer, for sponsoring the Champion Intermediate PSA, Crawford-Clipper-Harrison Sun for sponsoring the Champion Junior PSA, and John and Kim Madsen for sponsoring the Champion Presentation. Sheridan County sponsors were Broken Box Ranch, Hamilton Valley Ranch, Meyring Cattle Company, Rushville Veterinary Clinic, Western Sands Motel, Beguin Enterprises, Dave & Retta Kayton, Engravers, Ideal Market, Panhandle Rural Electric, Sidetracks, The Hairsmith, Windmill on the Hill, and Half Diamond E Coffee.