2016 was the first year I made it to State Field Day where I was awarded a platinum seal for my Illustrated Talk titled "The Wonders of the Mule". 

My presentation in 2017 was titled "That's Rodeo".  This picture was taken at Sectional Presentation Day. 

In 2018 I gave an Illustrated Talk on my trip to India.  It was titled "A Profile in Compassion". This picture was taken at Sectionals.  

Olivia Speaks 4-H

My first presentation in 2015.  I talked about the difference between English and Western saddles.

Hi my name is Olivia. I have been a member of Lucky Clover 4-H since 2011.  I began public speaking in 2015 and fell in love with the 4-H presentation and public speaking program at 12 years old.  For me, the thrill of getting up in front of a group of people and just talking is what made me always want more.  Now that I am older, I can clearly identify that public speaking is one of my “Sparks,” and I have the 4-H public speaking program to thank.  From the time I was in kindergarten to my sophomore year, I wanted to be an equine vet.  While I still want to work with animals, the public speaking program has helped me realize that my true passion for my future lies in Ag Communications, a major where I can learn how to be the voice for the ag industry.    

Being a part of the public speaking program has opened my eyes to a major problem: at presentation days, there always seems to be a shortage of evaluators. Ironically, my work with 4-H led me to the solution for this problem: The Rotary Organization.  It was through 4-H that I was introduced to the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club which gave me the opportunity to visit Kolkata, India in January 2018 where I helped at the Piyali Learning Center: a school for disadvantaged girls.  That trip opened my eyes to the many ways Rotary helps others.  One of Rotary’s stated goals is to support education.  Knowing this, it made me think that maybe Rotary could help 4-H.  With the help of my mom we wrote a speech that I presented to the same Rotary club that sponsored my India trip about becoming evaluators at County presentation day.  They immediately  said, “Yes!”  For the first time since I’ve been a part of the 4-H public speaking program, the 2018 County Presentation Day had an abundance of evaluators.  Seeing how eager Rotary members were to help 4-H members acquire a lifelong skill made me realize Rotary was the missing piece in the 4-H presentation program system.  Considering 4-H and Rotary are both nationwide organizations, I believe partnering Rotary with 4-H can solve a problem not only in my county, but also state-wide and across the United States.  As my Emerald Star project, I have created this website to connect 4-H with Rotary nationwide.