Dedham Country Day School second grader Ivy Glenn, a member of the Stoughton Barn Bums 4-H Club, was one of the winners of this year’s Visual Presentation Day held on April 14. She received a Second Place rosette in the Junior Rabbit/Cavy category for her presentation, “Pig Problems: Common Health Care Issues of Guinea Pigs.” It is her first year in 4-H, as well as her first Visual Presentation.

Ivy was one of a hundred 4-H youth honored in the state-level public speaking competition, which features the best of the 4-H organization’s rising public speakers selected through nine regional competitions.
 
Beginning at age eight, 4-H youth begin competition in Visual Presentation, Public Speaking, or Extemporaneous Speaking at the nine regional 4-H competitions. The top-scoring participants advance to this statewide event showcasing their talents and accomplishments. 
 
About 300 4-H youth, ages 8 to 18, presented on a wide range of topics at the event. Some of the many interesting subjects included equine science, maple syrup production, how to build an A-frame fire, dog showmanship, getting to know GMOs, investing in stocks, hydroponics, magic tricks and illusions, suburban chicken-keeping, and history of firefighting. Each participant was judged against a specific set of guidelines and scored individually.
 
The 4-H Visual Presentation program is one of Massachusetts 4-H Youth Development’s premiere programs and part of the 4-H Communications Program, which teaches young people valuable skills in research, organization, use of visual aids and public speaking.
 

“Through the Visual Presentation program, 4-H youth overcome the fear of public speaking and develop poise and confidence in making presentations,” said Laurie Flanagan, executive director at the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation. “4-H alumni frequently tell us that their Visual Presentation experience gave them the essential skills for speaking in any professional or public setting.”