South Carolina 4-H Presentations Contest Registration 2026

The 4-H Presentations Contest provides youth the opportunity to develop and demonstrate effective public speaking, communication, and teaching skills through an organized presentation or demonstration. The contest includes two phases:

1. Online Registration and Video Entry (pre-recorded virtual submissi)
2. In-Person State 4-H Presentations Contest (by invitation only; save the date in case you qualify!)

Eligibility

• Open to all enrolled 4-H members in good standing for the current year.

• Cloverbud aged participants may register for free through Eventbrite before submitting a video. Junior and Senior aged participants must register and pay the $10 fee through Eventbrite before submitting a video entry. Qualifying Junior and Senior individuals will be invited to participate in the in-person state-level contest.

• Age divisions are determined by the participant’s age as of January 1 of the current program year:

• Cloverbud: Ages 5–8 years (non-competitive age division)

• Junior: Ages 9–13 years

• Senior: Ages 14–18 years

Contest Phases

Phase 1: Qualifying Video Submission

Purpose: To gather a complete list of participants and presentations in order to evaluate presentation quality, accuracy, and communication skills to select finalists for the in-person contest.

Video Submission Requirements:

• Videos must be recorded in one continuous take—no editing or cuts allowed.

• Horizontal video orientation is preferred.

• The presentation should be recorded as if given live (standing, using props, visuals, or slides as appropriate).

• Time limits:

• Cloverbud: 5 minutes or less

• Junior: 3-8 minutes

• Senior: 8-12 minutes

• Submit videos to the designated platform using an accessible link (can be unlisted but must be accessible to judges) or file upload (approved file types include (MP4) with 1GB maximum file size).

• Videos must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for review.

Video Presentation Awards

Judges will score video presentations, and feedback will be provided to all participants by email.

• As a non-competitive age division, Cloverbuds will not be placed, but will receive feedback and a digital certificate.

• Top three (3) scorers from each South Carolina 4-H Region in both the Junior and Senior age divisions will be invited to advance to the in-person state contest, as well as receive regional-based awards.

Phase 2: State In-Person Presentations Contest

Qualifying participants will be contacted via email and invited to advance to the in-person state contest.

In-Person Requirements:

• Participants must be present in-person to participate. Should you require special accommodations due to a disability, please notify the event coordinator ten (10) days prior to the event.

• Presentations should closely resemble the qualifying submission but may be refined or improved.

• Time limits remain the same as in the qualifying round.

• Participants are limited to three minutes to set up prior to starting their presentation. Similarly, participants have to breakdown and clear the presentation area within that same timeframe. Presenters can invite and have help from parents or others for the setup and breakdown periods, but they cannot help during the presentation itself.

• Electronic presentations will be requested in advance, but participants are encouraged to bring a backup copy on a USB drive or an emailed copy or cloud-based version (PowerPoint or PDF file). There will be dedicated time at the start of the event for presenters to test their electronic presentations.

Equipment: The items listed below will be provided for presenters, but participants must provide any additional materials or supplies needed for their presentation.

• Table

• Easel

• Screen

• Laptop (with electronic presentations preloaded)

• Projector

• Clicker

In-Person Awards

Judges will score all in-person presentations (Video presentation scores will not be used for scoring at the in-person contest).

• The top three placings from the Junior and Senior age division will be awarded.

Judging Criteria: https://bit.ly/44fjLKK

Category (Possible Points)

Presentation Skills (30)
appearance, communication, visual aids

Format (30)
introduction, body, summary/results

Content (40)
topic, connections, questions, correctness

Time (-)
deductions only

Total Possible (100)

Tie-Breaking Procedures

In the event of a tie in total scores, the following criteria will be used in order to determine the higher-ranking participant:

1. Highest Content Score (40 points possible) – The contestant with the higher score in the Content section (accuracy, grammar, organization, and relevance of information) will be ranked higher.
2. Highest Presentation Skills Score (30 points possible) – If still tied, the contestant with the higher score in Presentation Skills (voice, confidence, enthusiasm, body language, etc.) will be ranked higher.
3. Highest Format Score (30 points possible) – If a tie remains, the contestant with the higher Format score (introduction, body, summary, and logical organization) will be ranked higher.
4. Fewest Time Deductions – If contestants remain tied after comparing section scores, the one with fewer time penalties (for presentations running over or under time) will be ranked higher.
5. Judges’ Consensus – If a tie persists after applying all of the above criteria, the judges will confer to reach a consensus decision based on overall effectiveness, impact, and audience engagement.

General Rules and Conduct

• Each presentation must include the following information within the first three sentences of the opening:
  - Full Name
  - 4-H Age Division [Cloverbud/Junior/Senior]
  - 4-H County
  - Presentation Title.

• Props, posters, models, and other visuals are encouraged where relevant and will be accounted for in the judging process.

• Firearms, ammunition, and live animals are strictly prohibited. In addition, 4-H staff reserve the right to limit other items that may be a safety hazard or against the rules of the facility hosting the contest. Participants must adhere to 4-H Code of Conduct and all individuals present must follow the instructions of the event coordinators at all times.

• Any plagiarism, falsified work, or rule or 4-H Code of Conduct violation may result in disqualification. The presentation must be the presenter's own words, and they should give credit to any facts, images, or quotes from other sources.

• Late entries or incomplete submissions will not be judged.

• Decisions of judges and contest officials are final.

• Content for presentations can be related to any of the five 4-H Program Areas: Agriculture and Animals, Civic Engagement, Healthy Living, Natural Resources, and STEM. The topic should be of interest to the participant!

Use of Live Animals

For the safety of participants, animals, and audience members, live animals are not permitted as part of any State 4-H Presentation Contest entry—whether in qualifying videos or during the in-person contest. This rule applies to all species, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and small animals.

Participants are encouraged to use creative and educational alternatives to demonstrate their topic. Acceptable alternatives include:

• Photographs or videos of the animal(s) involved, taken by the 4-H member.

• Models, replicas, or diagrams that demonstrate anatomy, handling, or management practices.

• Props or visual aids such as feed samples, grooming tools, or housing equipment.

• Digital presentations or slides showing the steps, care routines, or procedures being discussed.

If the presentation topic involves animals, all demonstrations should be verbal, visual, or simulated—not live.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• If my county or club hosts a local 4-H presentations contest, does it count towards this event?
  No, the South Carolina 4-H Presentations Contest is independent of local contests and serves as an additional opportunity for youth to showcase their skills and knowledge. However, we encourage counties and clubs to use the State 4-H Presentations Contest guidelines and judging rubric as resources to host local events.

• Can I use the same presentation for my county and the state competition?
  Yes! We would love for you to take any comments and feedback from your local level (and from the video submission phase) to improve your presentation. We are always looking to “make the best better” in 4-H!

• My county does not have a 4-H presentations contest, can I still participate?
  Yes! We would love to have you participate in this contest, and it does not require participation at the local level.

• Can I use the same presentation topic as I did last year?
  Yes. However, moving forward, state winners will not be allowed to give the same presentation in their same age division after they win. You must choose another topic next year or be moving from Junior to Senior age division.

• Can I bring a live animal to my presentation? (e.g., my rabbit or chicken to demonstrate showmanship or my dog or horse to demonstrate training or obedience)
  No, live animals are not allowed. Judges will evaluate participants on their ability to clearly communicate the concept or skill without the use of live animals.

• Can I present as part of a team?
  No, all presentations should be done individually.

Contest Timeline for 2026

Date: Action

December 12, 2025: Registration Deadline

January 9, 2026: Video submissions due - https://forms.gle/9UVS2o7199QrjXKF7

January 20, 2026: Qualifying participants will be invited to in-person contest

February 7, 2026: In-person state contest will be held at South Carolina State
Fairgrounds, time TBD

For questions about this event or if you require special accommodations due to a disability, please notify the event coordinator at least ten days prior to the event.

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Refund statement: Full payment is due upon registration. No refunds will be issued within 7 days of the start of the event.

Membership requirement: Current 4-H membership in is required for participation in this event.

Custodial Care: Please note that this event and its coordinators do not assume custodial care of youth in attendance. Adults (parents, guardians, volunteers, coaches, or chaperones) must be present for the supervision of youth participants.

Civil Rights Statement

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