4-H Farm School is a non-competitive program held annually at the Washington County Fair. Farm School gives youth the opportunity to educate and entertain the public by showcasing their 4-H animal and/or agricultural projects. Farm School participants will talk with fairgoers, especially small children and families, about their chosen topic. Live animals are encouraged! Youth will talk about their project’s unique needs and characteristics, such as grooming, training, showing, anatomy, or care of an animal and methods or techniques related to an agricultural product (e.g. soap, milk, etc.). 

Presentations should be lively and fun. This presentation is more like having a conversation than giving a speech. Some facts and information should be prepared, but the audience’s interest will guide the presentation. The more interactive, the better!  No need to get stressed-out – It’s just you and your friends talking to people who want to learn more about what you do. No judges.

Presentations should last 10 minutes. Participants will be expected to use a microphone and PA system. There are no digital presentations/aids allowed.

Participation in Farm School can count towards Public Speaking and Community Service in Record Books and Big-E Applications.

How to Register?

Entries are due by August 1. Please email cdicenzo@uri.edu for more information. A registration link will be made available before the deadline. You MUST receive confirmation of your time slot and presentation topic to be fully registered. Please note that you may be asked to change presentation topics if the topic is inappropriate or has already been requested.

Helpful Tips

• You may want to present in teams of 2 to 4 members if live animals are present, so one team member can be speaking while the others are handling the animals. Remember that team members must take turns speaking!
• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE your presentation ahead of time so that you are comfortable and prepared when speaking
• Be enthusiastic and confident when speaking – you will be competing with the noise and distraction of the fair! 
• Engage the audience with questions, props, demonstrations, etc. The more involved the audience feels, the better your presentation will be!
• If you need advice on topics or would like to practice your presentation ahead of time, you can always contact the State 4-H Office for help!