Oregon 4-H Horse Presentation Contest ... - Oregon State 4-H

Oregon 4-H Horse Presentation Contest Guidelines(effective 10/01/09 through 09/30/010)The 4-H Horse Presentation Contest is an educational experience that allows youth tofurther develop their abilities to relate their horse industry knowledge to others. Acontestant may participate in only one category of this contest per year. The categoriesare individual presentation and team presentation.Objectives1. To provide an opportunity for 4-H youth to express their knowledge of equine scienceand husbandry.2. To develop within youth interested in the horse industry the ability to speakconfidently before the public.Team MakeupEach county may send the following number of entries:1 senior individual presentation1 senior team presentation1 intermediate individual presentation1 intermediate team presentationTeams must consist of 2 members and may not be of mixed age divisions. Allparticipants should have received a blue ribbon at their county qualifying event.EquipmentThe contest committee will provide a table and two easels. All other equipmentarrangements are the responsibility of the contestant. Use of creative audio/visual aids ispermitted, but the contestant must have been involved in making them. A public addresssystem will not be used.In the event of mechanical difficulties or equipment breakdown, the contestant’s scoremay be affected at the judge’s discretion. If the judge determines the problem was due tosomething beyond the contestant’s control, such as a general power failure, no pointdeductions should occur. However, if the judge determines the problem could have beenbetter handled or resolved by the contestant, points may be deducted. Examples of whenpoints might be deducted would be if the contestant was not familiar enough with theequipment to restart a PowerPoint program or was unable to change a burned out light inan overhead projector.The time allowed to fix problems is also at the discretion of the judge. When a problemoccurs, the judge will tell the contestants how much time they have to correct theproblem. Once that time has been used, excess time will count towards the overallpresentation time.

Contest ProceduresThis contest may be a demonstration or an illustrated talk. No live animals will bepermitted.Contestant order will be determined prior to the contest.The presentation shall be 10 to 15 minutes in length. One point will be deducted from thetotal score for each minute or fraction of a minute under 10 minutes or over 15 minutes.The use of notes is permitted. However, excessive use of notes may be counted againstthe contestant at the judge’s discretion.During the presentation, contestants should introduce themselves by name, county, andpresentation topic. Contestants should cite their major reference materials at theconclusion of their presentation. The time spent citing references is not counted in theallotted time limit. Only the judge(s) may ask questions of the contestant in the contest.Contestants should repeat the question and then answer it. The time used for questionswill not be counted as part of the allotted presentation time.Once an individual or team has started their presentation, they may not receive assistancefrom any coach, parent, audience member, or other person. Assistance includes, but is notlimited to, the stroking of any key on a computer or touching any other audio visualdevise. Penalty for violating this rule is disqualification.Topic/ContentThe subject matter of the presentation must pertain to the horse industry. Presentationsnot appropriately related to the horse industry can be disqualified at the discretion of thejudge.No topic of a similar title content or subject may be cross-entered in the public speakingcontest.Content must consist of new material not previously exhibited by the contestant at a priorSpring Horse Classic.Awards and RecognitionMedallions will be presented to the top individual and top team presentation in each agedivision. Rosettes will be awarded to the top five individuals and teams in each agedivision.