THE TOP FIVE WINNERS of this year’s 4-H Club Public Speaking Contest were guests at Thursday’s Cleveland Kiwanis Club luncheon. Attending the meeting were, from left, program chairman Chris Newton, Ben Bunch of Ocoee Middle School, 4-H Extension agent Janet Bunch, Trey Hamilton of Waterville Elementary, Julie Bryant of Michigan Avenue Elementary, Jared Johnston of Ocoee Middle School, Sarah Beavers of Ocoee Middle School and Kiwanis President Leigh Ann Boyd. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS
The champions are from the fourth through the eighth grade and represent the best of more than 110 contenders. The Kiwanis Club has assisted with the event for several years, providing awards and judges.
Agriculture Extension agent Janet Bunch, whose son Ben was this year’s eighth-grade winner, coordinated the contest this year and introduced the five winners Thursday.
She announced that the five champions will advance to another contest Saturday, April 14, when Cleveland State Community College will be host for an entire day of 4-H activities. There will be public speaker and 4-H demonstrations.
Bunch proudly explained there are more than 3,300 students participating in 4-H in Bradley County.
The five district 4-H Club winners this year include fourth-grader Julie Bryant of Michigan Avenue Elementary, the daughter of Michelle and Jack Bryant; Trey Hamilton, the son of Lisa and Carson Hamilton and a fifth-grade student at Waterville Elementary; Jared Johnston, the son of Ken and Tammy Johnston and a sixth-grade student at Ocoee Middle School; seventh-grade student Sarah Beavers of Ocoee Middle and the daughter of Dorothy and Michael Beavers; and Ben Bunch, son of Janet and Doug Bunch and in the eighth grade at Ocoee Middle.
Each of the students presented their winning talk for Kiwanis members:
Julie Bryant
A competitive swimmer, she talked about how her “gift” of swimming led to another gift. Practicing for a swim meet, she was told by her mother that if she won her mom would get her a puppy.
She went through the process of the competition and how she finished in first place, and how her mother said, “I think we’re getting a puppy.”
She found a German short-haired pointer which she wanted, discuss how she went through the training, and how the puppy is now a grown, trained bird dog.
She explained that the puppy, Nicole, is a gift which began with a gift.
Trey Hamilton
The Waterville student gave a humorous discussion about three of his greatest embarrassments. The three “oops” involved worms, a baseball bat and erasers.
He and some friends went digging for worms in a wet, moist and nasty site and came away with a worm. They then found a fellow student who agreed to buy it for a dollar. But, a teacher found out and they were suddenly without the dollar and the worm.
He then discuss his ineptitude at running with a bat between his leg, and his embarrassment and loss of teeth.
The third embarrassment was when he was bored and decided that he would stick erasers to his face. He said it didn’t hurt, but he was left with spots all over his face, much to his embarrassment.
Jared Johnston
His goal in life is to design boats, but not any boat, Master Craft boats. “I love boats,” he said to start his speech.
The Ocoee Middle school student talked about the history of the firm in Maryville and now its plant in Vonore. “They made 12 boats their first year, and now make 3,000 each year,” he said.
He told of meeting Master Craft representatives at a boat show in Chattanooga and being invited to tour the Vonore plant.
The young boater discussed all the different type of boats now constructed by Master Craft. He discussed the different types, and different costs of various craft.
Sarah Beavers
This Ocoee Middle School student would cause you to think about Christmas, especially the global benefit program called “Operation Christmas Child,” which contributes holiday gift boxes to children around the world.
She discussed the program’s founder and his eventual death, and how the shoe box program is now managed by Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is coordinated by Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham.
The student talked about the program history and impact, and how it has grown to 140 countries around the world. “It offers hope to children who have nothing but despair and hopelessness,” she said. She urged Kiwanis Club member to join in the effort during this year’s holidays.
Ben Bunch
If you are interested in the history of Macintosh (as in the Apple computer), this student is someone you might want to talk with.
He provided Kiwanis with an Apple analysis, noting the computer firm began operation in the 1970s. He said Apple began the evolution of the computer world, releasing its first computer on April Fool’s Day in 1976.
He walked his audience through improvements and ups and downs of the business through the late 20th century and into the early 2000s. He discussed the competition of the computer business world, the worth of computers, stocks and computer development.
To conclude his speech he touched on iPods, iPads, iBooks, Apple TV, iTunes and many other innovations and creations from the world of computers.
Other Kiwanis notes:
- Alan Winter gave a report on last Saturday’s Dr. Seuss Birthday Party, where Kiwanis Club members assisted. The club gave out more than 800 free Dr. Seuss books this year and the event at the Cleveland State Community College library was billed a success.
Photographs from the party will be published in Sunday’s Banner.
- Kathy Austin urged club members to participate in the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31.
n Program chairman Chris Newton reminded club members that the guest speaker next Thursday will be Rebecca Paul Hargrove, Tennessee state lottery director.
