OKEECHOBEE — The 2023 Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest was held on Monday, May 15, at Everglades Elementary School. The Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest was formerly known as the Tropicana Public Speaking Contest, but is now “powered” by FPL as the main statewide sponsor.

The winners of the contest are:

Fourth grade winners of the 2023 4-H Public Speaking Contest.

Fourth Grade Winners
• First place - Anslay Hackett with “Volleyball”, North Elementary;
• Second place - Bailey Rickards with “Everyone Needs A Bubba”, Rock Solid Christian Academy; and
• Third place - Nikki Medrano with “My Favorite Show”, Everglades Elementary.

Fifth grade winners of the 2023 4-H Public Speaking Contest.

Fifth Grade Winners
• First place - Rosaleigh Alford with “My Papa”, North Elementary;
• Second place - Addyson Lyng with “Welcome To My 'Addy' Talk”, South Elementary; and
• Third place - Haylee Davis with “My Dream Job”, Okeechobee Christian Academy.

Sixth grade winners of the 2023 4-H Public Speaking Contest.

Sixth Grade Winners
• First place - Olivia Wherrell with “Think Twice”, Wherrell Academy Home School;
• Second place - Gianna Gehring with “Powering Through Mental Blocks”, Osceola; and
• Third place - Kenzie Brazil with “Everything About Jeeps”, Yearling.

The decision of the judges is final.

A special “Thank you” is extended to the following: All school principals, school public speaking coordinators, classroom teachers, judges, parents, and youth that participated in the classroom contests and school contests. Thanks to Everglades Elementary School, Okeechobee County School Board, the Okeechobee County School System, Children’s Services Council of Okeechobee, and the local Home School community. Thanks also to the statewide sponsor, Florida Power and Light (FPL).

For additional information about 4-H events and activities please contact:
UF/IFAS Extension Okeechobee County 4-H
458 US Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, Florida 34972
(863)763-6469