TalkJersey, the national public speaking and presentation contest for Jersey youth, will be held for the eighth time in Amarillo, Texas, site of the 2013 annual meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc.

Jersey owners between the ages of 7 and 20 on January 1, 2013, can participate in either the live public speaking contest or the recorded presentation division.

Friday, June 14 is the deadline for entries at www.usjersey.com/forms/talkjersey.htm.

Judging for live presentations is Wednesday, June 26. The top-ranked contestant in each category will present his/her winning speech in a showcase awards ceremony on June 29 at the Amarillo Civic Center, prior to the start of the 56th National Heifer Sale. Cash awards sponsored by ABS Global Inc., DeForest, Wis., and prizes offered by the American Jersey Cattle Association will be presented in all divisions.

Live Public Speaking

Demonstrations or speeches are to focus on any aspect of the Registered Jersey™ business, including current affairs and dairy industry trends. Judges will evaluate the speaker's personal interest in the topic, as well as its appropriateness for a general dairy audience.

Participants will be divided into groups by their age on January 1, 2013 as follows: Division I, 7 to 10 years; Division II, 11 to 13 years; Division III, 14 to 16; and Division IV, 17 to 20 years.

Division I contestants present demonstrations between four (4) and six (6) minutes in length. Posters may be used in addition to demonstration materials.

Participants in Divisions II, III and IV present speeches between five (5) and seven (7) minutes in length. Visual aids are not allowed. Speaker notes are permitted. No more than four (4) 4" x 6" notecards may be used. Judges will ask questions after each presentation is completed. Judging will be open for viewing by interested parties.

Contestants will be scored on the basis of 50 points, as follows: topic selection and content, 15 points; organization of speech, 10 points; vocal presentation, 10 points; presentation and effectiveness, 10 points; and response to questions, 5 points. One (1) point will be subtracted from the total point score for each 30 seconds over or under the required speaking time.

Recorded Presentation Division

Pre-recorded narrated video or narrated PowerPoint presentations may also be entered. Presentations must be the contestant's own work and have been created between September 1, 2012 and June 14, 2013.

The topic must be a subject directly related to Registered Jerseys™. Entries must be at least four (4) minutes in length, and feature the youth contestant as the only speaker. No costumes may be used, and no interviews with other persons are allowed. Musical tracks or background music cannot be used in these presentations.

The finished presentation must be saved in PC format and recorded for playback on either a CD/DVD or USB drive. Entries are to be submitted to the AJCA office by June 20 for judging. Age divisions will be determined by the number of entries received.

About the National Jersey Youth Program

The American Jersey Cattle Association has made strategic investments in Jersey youth since 1958 when it created the National Heifer Sale to provide annual funding for educational programs and awards. The first of nine youth scholarship funds managed by the AJCA was established in 1965. The Maurice E. Core Jersey Youth Fund provides financial support for junior activities at The All American Show & Sale, the Jersey breed's showcase event for 58 years. Jersey Youth Academy was created in 2008 to expand educational programs for older Jersey youth. The third Academy will be held in July of 2013 in Columbus, Ohio.

02.18.2013