4-H Horse Project Speech and Demonstration Contest

Call your local 4-H office to find out more and sign up. 

• Demonstrate by yourself or in a team of two.
• No live horses can be used but you can show a video.
• Original speech compositions are preferred but not required.
• Age: You must have completed sixth grade and be younger than 19 by the date of the state contest to be eligible for national contests. If you are past your 19th birthday and are a current 4-H member, you may compete at the state contest. See the horse show handbook for more information.
• You must be enrolled in Minnesota 4-H, but need not be a horse project participant.
• Minnesota award representatives must meet national contest guidelines.
• Subject matter must pertain to the horse industry.
• Length of presentation: individual demo, 9–12 minutes; team demo, 10–15 minutes; speech, 7–10 minutes.
• You will be penalized three points for each minute under or each minute over the allotted time
• You must cite your sources.
• Most importantly—have fun!

A judge will evaluate your demonstration or speeches. The judge will discuss your presentation with you after you have finished. The following is a guideline used for evaluating the presentations and making awards.

• A team is made up of two people.
• The subject matter must pertain to the horse industry. Demonstrations or presentations not appropriately related to the horse industry can be disqualified at the discretion of the judge(s).
• Presentations may be either in the form of a demonstration or illustrated talk. No live animals may be used. Contestants may use notes. However, at the judge's discretion, excessive use of notes may be counted against the contestant.
• Creative audio visual aids may be used, but the contestants must be involved in making or designing them.
• During the competition, the contestants may introduce themselves by name, county and presentation topic.
• Team presentations should be 10-15 minutes long. Individual presentation should be 9-12 minutes long. Three points will be deducted from the total score for each minute (or fraction of a minute) under or over the allotted minutes.
• Contestants should cite their major reference materials at the end of the presentation (not counted in the allotted time).
• Only responses to the judges' questions will be considered in judging. Question time will not be counted in the allotted time. Contestant may repeat the question then answer it.
• Judges will consider the questions listed under each section of the scorecard.