Beef Issues Skit Contest

M. C. Claeys

This year the NC Beef Expo has many new and exciting programs and activities for people of all ages. One of the programs for the young people(4-H'ers) is the Beef Issues Skit Contest. This activity is sponsored by the NC Cattlemen's Beef Council and offers the opportunity to young people for fun and learning more about the industry.

There will be two divisions for this first time event. Youth will learn to work in a group and have an opportunity to tell the many stories about beef in a relaxed fun atmosphere. An outline of the event, entry forms, score sheets, and topics list are provided below. Please review the materials and let your minds go to the development of an entertaining, informative skit. Entries should be sent to Joy Kennedy at the NCCA office.

BEEF ISSUES SKIT CONTEST

I. Objective:

For youth working as a team to gain a greater understanding of the issues that confront the industry and how the issues may affect the production of the product. Provide an opportunity to experience and improve communication and information gathering skills.

II.Eligibility:

Junior Cattlemen Division

A.Eligible entries will consist of a team comprised of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) members.

B.Each team member must have reached his/her ninth (9) birthday on or before January 1 of the current year and must not have reached his/her nineteenth (19) birthday prior to January 1 of the current year.

C.Individuals who have enrolled in a post secondary university, college, junior college or technical institute beyond the first semester or quarter of the current year are not eligible for participation.

Pee-Wee Cattlemen Division

A.Eligible entries will consist of a team comprised of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) members.

B.Each team member must have reached his/her fifth (5) birthday on or before January 1 of the current year and must not have reached his/her ninth (9) birthday prior to January 1 of the current year.

C.Participants in this division will be judged on participation, no ranking will take place.

III.Rules and Regulations:

A.The Skit

1.Teams will be allowed to choose their topic for the skit contest from the provided list of approved topics. A list will be provided for each division. Pee-Wee Cattlemen must use the topics from their respective list and are not allowed to advance to the Junior Cattlemen list. The Junior Cattlemen will not be allowed to use the topics from the Pee-Wee Cattlemen list.

2.A reference guide will be provided with the topics list. This guide is strictly a starting point for gathering information. Participants are encouraged to find other information from a wide range of resources to present a conclusive picture of the issue.

3.Teams should be creative and present the topic in an interactive theme format that addresses the various views that are part of the entire issue. The skit should be an original performance prepared by the young people with coaching from leaders, agents, parents, and volunteers. Some examples may be role playing, situation scenarios, game shows, etc.

4.Visual aids can and should be used to enhance presentation points and overall message. These visual aids may be posters, props and drawings. Slides and overheads should not be used as the presentation should be a skit and not a documentary or lecture.

5.Contestants are required to supply their own equipment , visual aids and props. Two easels will be available on stage for contestants to utilize if desired.

6.Contestants should be dressed neatly and appropriately for the occasion.

B.Skit Requirements

1.Junior Cattlemen Division:

Skits are required to be a minimum of five (5) minutes and a maximum of ten (10) minutes. A two point deduction will be taken from the overall score for every minute or portion of a minute above or below the established time specification.

2.Pee-Wee Cattlemen Division:

Skits are required to be a minimum of two (2) minutes and a maximum of five (5) minutes.

3.Time will be allotted for answering questions posed by the contest officials. This time is not considered as part of the time specification. The presentation by the youth should be planned to meet the above specifications.

IV.Scoring

Junior Cattlemen entries will be evaluated on the effectiveness of the skit as outlined in the categories below:

V.Contest Entry

Teams that wish to participate must complete the attached entry form and send it to the NC Cattlemen's Beef Council office by October 15th, of the current year.

VI.Awards

Sponsored by the NC Cattlemen's Beef Council

Junior Cattlemen Division

First place team winners will receive a $50.00 savings bond for each team member.

Runner-up team members will receive a $25.00 savings bond for each team member.

Third place team members will receive a complimentary membership to the NC Cattlemen's Association and all the benefits that come with NCCA membership.

All participants will receive a participation award

BEEF ISSUES SKIT CONTEST

TOPICS