This year marks the largest contest since combining the two counties. The 19 contestants included: Celise Baird, Luke Baird, Breanna Mindt and Tyson Perdue, all Minot; Cooper Sem and Keylie Sem, both Palermo; Kilah Hager, Aniyah Honrud and Gina Steele, all Ross; Nolan Lee, Tanner Lee, Thaddeus Lee, Xavier Lee and Zane Lee, all Sawyer; Sidney Enerson and Molly Hamilton, both Stanley; Austin Boleware, Hunter Vickery and Ryker Vickery, all Surrey.

The contest divides contestants into three age groups: Senior, Junior, and Cloverbud. Seniors are youths ages 13 to 18, Juniors are ages 8 to 12, and Cloverbuds are ages 5 to 7.

The North Dakota 4-H Communication Arts program’s primary objectives are to help participants by developing communication skills that are useful throughout their lifetime; practicing gathering and organizing information, equipment and props for public presentations; practicing their skills before a group; and developing confidence in making public presentations.

Judges were Jesse Barlow, Carol Maurer, Alecia Pulver, Danae Vachal and Melissa Vachal.

Submitted Photo Ryker and Hunter Vickery present the interpretive reading “Who’s on First.”

Ribbon awards were as follows:

– Cloverbud, Thaddeus Lee, “Violin,” and X. Lee, “My Cat,” participation.

– Junior Demonstration Team, Hamilton and Steele, “How to Saddle a Horse,” Grand Champion.

– Senior Demonstration, C. Sem, “Bracing Broadhead Archery: Arrow Building,” Blue.

– Junior Illustrated Talk, K. Sem, “Of Desert Winds and Western Trails – An Exploration of the Arabian Horse and Quarter Horse,” Grand Champion.

– Junior Illustrated Talk, N. Lee, “The Process of Making White Bread,” Blue.

– Junior Illustrated Talk, Z. Lee, “Pancakes,” Blue.

– Junior Illustrated Talk, Tanner Lee, “How to Make a Poultry Waterer,” Red.

– Junior Illustrated Talk Team, H. Vickery and R. Vickery, “Hunter’s Adventure in Type 1 Diabetes,” Grand Champion.

– Senior Illustrated Talk Team, Enerson and Hager, “Dancing with Cowboys,” Grand Champion.

– Junior Speech, Boleware, “Indonesia: The Next Powerhouse,” Blue.

– Junior Interpretive Reading, L. Baird, “Narwhal and Jelly,” Grand Champion.

– Junior Interpretive Reading, C. Baird, “But No Elephants,” Blue.

– Junior Interpretive Reading, L. Baird, “Gettysburg Address,” Blue.

– Junior Interpretive Reading Team, H. Vickery and R. Vickery, “Who’s on First,” Grand Champion.

– Senior Interpretive Reading Team, Mindt and Perdue, “Dr. Suess Green Eggs and Ham,” Blue.

– Junior Electronic Presentation, Honrud, “The Study of Hippology,” Grand Champion

– Senior Fish Tank, C. Sem, “Grannie’s Traditional Soap,” Grand Champion.

All 4-H members participating in the Ward and Mountrail County 4-H Communication Arts Contest may participate in their respective District 4-H Communication Arts Contests. Mountrail 4-H youth can join in their Multi-County Programming (MPU) area’s district contest in Williston on May 17. The other counties competing with Mountrail include Burke, Divide, McKenzie, and Williams counties. The Ward County 4-H youth can compete at their MPU area’s district contest in Mohall on May 29. Ward County will compete against Bottineau, McHenry, Pierce and Renville counties.

Youth who earn first place at their district contests in each Senior or Junior division, team/individual, and subject area qualify to compete at the State 4-H Communication Arts contest held during the North Dakota State Fair. The competition is on Sunday, July 21, starting at 11 a.m. in the Upper Atrium in the State Fair Center.