Ashley Crandall (left) and Kendra Hockran (right), from the Fluvanna Farmyard Friends 4-H Club in Chautauqua County placed first at regional horse communications in the Senior Team competition with their presentation "The Controversy"
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Horse Program annually offers a Public Presentation contest known as Horse Communications. Youth participants prepare speeches, demonstrations, team presentations, videos, or perform impromptu speeches. This year Chautauqua County 4-H had twenty-nine county horse presentations, seven of which were selected to advance to the regional competition. Public Speaking teaches youth to be confident, assertive, youth gain the ability to think & speak in front of a large group, develop poise and self confidence. At the Regional event, Chautauqua County youth met and competed against youth from Wyoming, Orleans, Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Erie County. Over 30 Horse presentations took place at Regional Horse Communications in Cuba, NY. Youth presented in four separate categories at the junior, 14 years of age and under, and senior 14-19 years of age, levels. The top four participants in each category will advance to the state competition.
The Public Speaking section of the contest requires youth to research, design, and deliver a 7-10 minute presentation without props or posters. In the senior public speaking division, Hailey Watkins of Orleans County won first place, Andrew Stady of Cattaraugus County won second place, and Paige Levandowski of Cattaraugus County won third place.
The Individual presentations are 9- 12 minutes long and may be a demonstration or illustrated talk. A demonstration is defined as a presentation of a step by step procedure with an end product or result. An illustrated talk is defined as a presentation of an idea or topic that uses visual aids to convey the message. Visual aids may include but are not limited to handouts, posters, props, videos, slides, and computer generated media (Power Point, websites, etc.). In the Senior division for individual presentations Colleen Bailey of Cattaraugus County won first place, Natalie Zeitz of Erie County won second place, Jordan Sweenten of Cataraugus County won third place, and Lara Bannister of Wyoming County won fourth place. In the junior division Haleigh Youll of Cattaraugus County won first place, Amy Breslin of Erie County won second place, Justin Murphy of Cattaraugus County won third place and Samantha Powell of Chautauqua County placed fourth. Gracie Morrison of Chautauqua County was the first alternate and will be attending state competition, filling the position Breslin of Erie County who is unable to attend State Competition.
Team presentations may be illustrated talks or demonstrations as well. Youth present in teams of two for 10-15 minutesIn the senior team division, Kendra Hockran and Ashley Crandall of Chautauqua County, won first place, and Amanda Lenau and Shelby Weisedel of Erie County won second place. . In the junior division, Alexie Zeigler and Lean Pasqualetti of Erie County won first place, Cora O Halloran and Clare McCoovy of Erie County won second place, and Emily Beisregel and Kaitlyn Qullin of Erie County, won third place.
Congratulations to the Horse Communication Participants. Horse Skills contests will continue throughout the summer with Regional Hippology, State Horse Bowl, State Hippology, State Communications and into the fall with national contests.
