Nebraska Extension in the North Panhandle held their Public Speaking Contest for 4-H youth, families, and volunteers on April 6, 2025 at the Crawford High School. Youth from Dawes, Sheridan and Box Butte Counties were in attendance. Dawes County had 10 youth participating with 5 giving Public Service Announcements. Box Butte County had 6 youth participating while Sheridan County had 2 youth participating. Topics were well-diverse through 4-H and more.
Results in the Presentation Division were:
Intermediate Division (ages 11-13): Julia Nicholson (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Champion, “The Fabric that is Ewe-nique”.
Results in the Public Speaking Division were:
Clover Kid (ages 5-7): Jarrett Redden (Dawes County), rainbow ribbon, “Playin’ Cowboy”.
Junior (ages 8-10): Cedar Frink (Sheridan County), purple ribbon and Champion, “How to Wash a Donkey”; Wyatt Redden (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Champion, “Wrestling”; Mara Foster (Box Butte County) purple ribbon and Champion, “What I like about 4-H”
Intermediate (ages 11-13): Callin Foster (Box Butte), purple ribbon and Champion, “Heritage”; Amelia Betson (Dawes County) purple ribbon and Champion, “Beef: Production to Consumption”; Willow Frink (Sheridan County) purple ribbon and Champion, “The Hidden Gems of 4-H”; Anna Milne (Box Butte County), blue ribbon, “Becoming a Leader”.
Senior (ages 14-18): Miranda Betson (Dawes County) purple ribbon and Champion, “Who Will Feed the Future”; Ayla Foster (Box Butte County) purple ribbon and Champion, “ Small Animals”; Eden Foster (Box Butte County) purple ribbon and Reserve Champion, “Stained Glass”; Katrina Karell (Box Butte County), blue ribbon “Unlocking the Code to Better Bunnies”.
Results in the Public Service Announcement Division were:
Junior: Tinley Lesmeister (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Champion, “Ready or Not, Here I Come”; Hazel Bieganski (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Reserve Champion, “4-H PSA”.
Intermediate: Oakley Terrell (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Champion, “Ready, Set…Future”; Rhett Lesmeister (Dawes County), purple ribbon and Reserve Champion, “Are YOU Ready?”; Magdalena Fisher (Dawes County), blue ribbon “Ready for the Fair”
Several youth qualified for the Premier Communication Event where they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete against 4-H youth from across the state. Those youth include: Tinley Lesmeister, Oakley Terrell, Rhett Lesmeister, Hazel Bieganski, Wyatt Redden, Mara Foster, Cedar Frink, Callin Foster, Willow Frink, Amelia Betson, Ayla Foster, Eden Foster, Miranda Betson and Julia Nicholson. The Premier Communication Event will be a two-day event held on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus on June 19th & 20th.