MINOT, N.D. (KXNET) — Kids from Ward and Mountrail counties showed off their public speaking in a Communication Arts Contest on March 23 in Stanley.

4-H officials said this year was the largest contest since the two counties were combined with a total of 19 contestants covering three age groups: seniors (age 13-18), juniors (eight to 12), and cloverbud (age five to seven).

4-H Communication Arts is designed to help kids develop communication skills, gather and organize information, practice skills in front of a group, and develop confidence in public presentations.

Five judges gave feedback and scores.

Ribbon awards were given out to these contestants:

  • Thaddeus Lee got a participation ribbon for “Violin” in Cloverbud
  • Xavier Lee got a participation ribbon for “My Cat” in Cloverbud
  • Molly Hamilton and Gina Steele got the Grand Champion for “How to Saddle a Horse” in Junior Demonstration
  • Cooper Sem got a blue ribbon for “Bracing Broadhead Archer: Arrow Building” in Senior Demonstration
  • Keylie Sem got the Grand Champion for “Of Desert Winds and Western Trails — An Exploration of the Arabian Horse and Quarter Horse” in Junior Illustrated Talk
  • Nolan Lee got a blue ribbon for “The Process of Making White Bread” in Junior Illustrated Talk
  • Zane Lee got a blue ribbon for “Pancakes” in Junior Illustrated Talk
  • Tanner Lee got a red ribbon for “How to Make a Poultry Waterer” in Junior Illustrated Talk
  • Hunter Vickery and Ryker Vickery got the Grand Champion for “Hunter’s Adventure in Type 1 Diabetes” in Junior Illustrated Talk
  • Sidney Enerson and Kilah Hager got the Grand Champion for “Dancing with Cowboys” in Senior Illustrated Talk
  • Austin Boleware got a blue ribbon for “Indonesia: The Next Powerhouse” in Junior Speech
  • Luke Baird got the Grand Champion for “Narwhal and Jelly” in Junior Interpretive Reading
  • Celise Barid got a blue ribbon for “But No Elephants” in Junior Interpretive Reading
  • Luke Baird got a blue ribbon for “Gettysburg Address” in Junior Interpretive Reading
  • Hunter Vickery and Ryker Vickery got the Grand Champion for “Who’s on First” in Junior Interpretive Reading
  • Breanna Mindt and Tyson Perdue got a blue ribbon for “Dr. Suess Green Eggs and Ham” Senior Interpretive Reading
  • Aniyah Honrud got the Grand Champion for “The Study of Hippology” in Junior Electronic Presentation
  • Cooper Sem got the Grand Champion for “Grannie’s Traditional Soap” in Senior Fish Tank

Those in the Mountrail County 4-H can participate in the Multi-County Programming (MPU) district contest in Williston on May 17, while Ward County 4-H members can participate in the MPU district contest in Mohall on May 29.

Those who place first at the district contest qualify to compete at the State 4-H Communication Arts contest during the State Fair on July 21 at 11 a.m. in the Upper Atrium in the State Fair Center.