2007 Congress News

Public Speaking and Demonstration Contests are a Huge Success
by Carly Williams

The Public Speaking and Demonstration contests were held on Tuesday, October 16 during the 2007 Congress. Each year, the Congress holds these two youth contests, along with Hippology, Horse Bowl and Judging contests, to educate and highlight youth who are dedicated to horses.

The Public Speaking and Demonstration contests were developed to help youth gain self-confidence. These competitions help teach these participants to communicate, and enable them to illustrate and speak of their skill in horse activity, as well as to develop skills in effective organization and presentation.

These contests allow team members to speak and illustrate a step-by-step procedure and explain why each step is essential to the overall product. The presentations also often include the use of visual aids to enhance the topic being discussed.

Within both the Public Speaking and Demonstration contests, participants give a seven to ten minute presentation, and will be judged based on their introduction and conclusion, as well as their organizational techniques, contents, accuracy, stage presence, delivery, desire to communicate and preparation.

Individual Demonstration Contest results:
1st - Braedy Thomas, Idaho
         “Deal or No Deal (May the Best Gene Win)”
2nd - Kelly Peterson, Wisconsin
           “Trail, How Not to Fail!”
3rd - Kira Pruitt, North Carolina
         "Runnin & Gunnin"
4th - Erin Flathers, Virginia
         “EPM – The Tale of a Horse”
5th - Sarah Liddick, Pennsylvania
         “Built Fjord Tough”
6th - Cait Rubb, Illinois
         “No Bones About It: Healing Lil’ April Jacks”

Team Demonstration Contest results:
1st - Chani Taggart and Trinda Taggart, Idaho
         “Horse Reproduction: Lovin’ in the Hay”
2nd - Ditte Hansen and Elizabeth Rhodes, North Carolina
           “Wonderful World of Dressage”
3rd - Marta Goerte and Max Goerte, Texas
          “Fundamentals of Curb Bit”
4th - Lauryn White and Jessica Jenkins, Kentucky
         “Wrap It Up”
5th - Joel Farrington and Jason Farrington, Texas
         “Carrot Practices”
6th (tie) - Mackenzie Wayco and Kelsey Sajdera, Indiana
                 “Show Me the Way…”
6th (tie) - Allyn Leick and Anna Fisher, Nebraska
                 “How Do You Like Them Apples?”

Demonstration Team Champions, Chani Taggart and Trinda Taggart

Individual Public Speaking Results:
1st - Allison Walser, North Carolina
         “The Era of the Fire Horse”
2nd - Chelsea Campbell, Texas
          “What’s Good for the Horse”
3rd - Wes Radecke, Ohio
          “Equine Chiropractic”
4th - Victoria Celano, Illinois
         “Shattered Hope”
5th - Hanna Butcher, Illinois
       “Tradition of the West”
6th - Courtney Aholt, Missouri
         “Diverting Disaster”

Champion Public Speaker, Allison Walser