The YADCA is inviting you to participate in the Speech Contest

Contest will be held at the 2026 Expo in Wooster, Ohio, June 24-27^th, 2026 - exact date and time to be determined.

You’ll get a chance to deliver a prepared speech on a Dexter Cattle topic at the expo in front of judges, showcasing your understanding of the breed and helping you develop your public speaking abilities. There are money prizes for those who place!

Please contact the ADCA youth advisor for more information: ipp@dextercattle.org

Speech contest rules:

Purpose:

• The YADCA Speech contest is created to provide an opportunity for our members to grow in the areas of public speaking and leadership; as well as present an opportunity to learn more about the breed, educate others on breed-specific topics, and demonstrate their knowledge. This event will be held in conjunction with the American Dexter Cattle Association and the ADCA Annual Expo.

Eligibility:

1. All active youth members are eligible to participate in the speech contest.

2. It will be held at the ADCA Expo – exact date and time to be determined.

3. Participants must be between 8 and 20 years of age at the time of competition.

a. Junior: 8-11 years of age as of January 1st of year competing.

b. Intermediate: 12-15 years of age as of January 1st of year competing.

c. Senior: 16-18 years of age as of January 1st of year competing.

d. Graduate: 19-20 years of age as of January 1st of year competing.

Subject:

1. Contestants may choose a subject from the following list that directly pertains to the Dexter breed.

a. Genetics

b. Breeding

c. Management

d. Marketing

e. Current (Newsworthy) Topics

Time Limit:

1. Graduate Division: Each presentation should be between 8-10 minutes.

2. Senior Division: Each presentation should be between 6-8 minutes.

3. Intermediate Division: Each presentation should be between 5-7 minutes.

4. Junior Division: Each presentation should be between 3-6 minutes.

5. Deductions will be made from the score of each judge for speeches that are under or over the time limit in length (further defined in the scoring rubric).

Contest Procedure:

1. Speaking orders will be randomly drawn by event officials

2. The event officials shall introduce each participant by name in the order of drawing.

3. Three competent judges will be selected by the committee to judge the contest. 4. A contestant may use notes and notecards while speaking, but deductions in scoring may be made if their use detracts from the effectiveness of the presentation. All contestants are encouraged to memorize their presentation, but notecard use is allowed.

5. Competitors will be allowed to use visual aids including posters, display boards, costumes, and props. No technology-based visual aids will be used as we offer a virtual presentation option and technology will be in use there.

6. A timekeeper will record the time by which each contestant delivers his or her speech, noting under or overtime. The timekeeper will indicate when thirty seconds remain by holding up a timecard.

7. When all contestants have finished speaking, each judge will total their scores for each speech. The three judges’ combined scores will determine the final placings.

a. Scoring will be broken down into:

i. Content- 40 pts

ii. Delivery- 30 pts

iii. Composition- 30 pts

Score Sheet:

• The contest will be judged on the following criteria- the number in parenthesis is the maximum points possible for each category:
  • Content (40)
    • i. Provides an adequate amount of information relating to the topic with a substantial message.
    • The material and information presented are factual, understood, and well researched.
    • Presented with a purpose to entertain, inform, persuade, or to obtain action.
  • Delivery (30)
    • Style
    • Developing a rapport with the audience
    • Easy to listen to and appealing presentation style
    • Conveyance of thought and meaning
    • Enthusiasm and conversational attitude
    • Articulate, good use of emphasis and volume
    • Confident poise and posture, makes eye contact and gestures appropriately
    • Personal appearance
    • Appropriate use of visual aids (if used)
  • Composition (30)
    • Speech is organized containing an introduction, body, and conclusion with main points and transitions
    • Correct sentence structure, proper language, and grammar used
    • Demonstrates creativity and originality
    • Material presented developed by the speaker
    • Skillful use of facts engaging the audience with examples, descriptions, and analogies.
  • Time Deductions:
    • Contestants will receive a 30-second grace period over or under the allotted time before deductions are taken. Any time over/under 31 to 45 seconds will receive a 5-point deduction, any time over/under 46 to 60 seconds will receive a 10-point deduction.

Awards:

• Cash awards will be awarded for first, second, and third in each age division: $75, $50, $25, as well as a rosette for first and second.

Online Competitors:

1. We will be offering an option for members who would like to participate in the competition but are not able to attend the Expo in person. We will offer an online option, where all rules and procedures listed above still apply, the competitor will just be delivering their speech from home (using their own equipment) and being shown to the audience and judges through YADCA-provided equipment.