Tips to Be a Confident Public Speaker

by Emma Ahrendsen, JRA Board

Mark Twain once said, “There are only two types of speakers in the world, nervous and liars.”

As we come into this season of contests, it is important to remember that nerves are inevitable, but you can be prepared to deal with them. Here are three tips to help you prepare for your upcoming public speaking contests.

1. Know Your Audience

Whether you are preparing for a contest, a school project or your local 4-H club meeting, your audience can make a huge impact on how you go about giving your presentation. Some important things to think about are the age and background knowledge of your audience. If you are talking to children, you will go about your presentation differently than if you are presenting to a group of adult cattlemen or your peers. When you know your audience, you can give a presentation that accurately conveys your points.