MARYSVILLE – Youth from across the state put their prepared speaking skills to the test during the Ohio Beef Youth Council (OBYC) Prepared Speech Contest held Saturday, Feb. 21, at the new Multispecies Animal Learning Complex on the The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences campus.
The Prepared Speech Contest is the second of five contests available to youth through the OBYC Stockmanship Program, sponsored by AgCredit.
The primary objective of the Prepared Speech Contest is to give youth an opportunity to refine their public speaking skills while emphasizing the importance of communication, poise and proper industry terminology.
Contestants selected topics they were passionate about and delivered speeches that were evaluated on language, voice, delivery and overall knowledge of the subject matter.
The contest consisted of four age divisions: Beginner, Junior, Intermediate and Senior.
More than 20 exhibitors participated.
The top five individuals in each division are listed below:
Beginner Division
Overall High Individual – Tyson Arnett, Richland County
Second High Individual – Ashley Shaver, Medina County
Junior Division
Overall High Individual – Jordan Hartschuh, Crawford County
Second High Individual – Natalie Atterholt, Ashland County
Third High Individual – Sadie Hoffman, Fairfield County
Fourth High Individual – Dwight Hartschuh, Crawford County
Fifth High Individual – Claire Atterholt, Ashland County
Intermediate Division
Overall High Individual – Grace Cade, Hancock County
Second High Individual – Lilly Gahler, Ottawa County
Third High Individual – Griffin Gahler, Ottawa County
Senior Division
Overall High Individual – Emma Lewis, Lorain County
Second High Individual – Kelsey Kaeser, Ashland County
The OBYC Stockmanship contests are supported by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Council.
These contests promote industry knowledge, hands-on learning and leadership development among Ohio’s next generation of beef producers and advocates.
Registration is open through April 4 for the next two contests — Skill-a-thon and Salesmanship — which will be held April 18 in Columbus.
Overall OBYC Stockmanship awards will be presented in each of the four age divisions at the end-of-year OBYC celebration event planned for June 5 in Columbus, Ohio.
For more information about the Ohio Beef Youth Council and OBYC Stockmanship contests, visit www.ohiocattle.org.