Extemporaneous Public Speaking

*2026 Update*

The extemporaneous public speaking contest will run very similarly to the National Contest. Students are allowed to bring the following resources (pulled from the national handbook):

• Must be limited to five items.

• Printed material such as books or magazines.

• Printed compilations of materials collected from internet research.

• Participants will have up to 10 minutes to conduct online research. Computers may be provided. Access to email, Dropbox or any prepared materials are prohibited. A room  monitor will be the official timekeeper for each contestant's technology time. The use of prepared notes or speeches, even if accessed with technology time, is prohibited and will be grounds for disqualification. 

• To be counted as one item, a notebook or folder of collected materials may contain no more than 100 single-sided pages or 50 double-sided pages numbered consecutively.

• References should be in original format. 

• There can be no notes or speeches prepared by the participant or by another person for the purpose of use in this event. Cutting and pasting into a Microsoft Word document will be considered prepared notes.

There will be 18 topics, 3 coming from each of the following categories:

• Agricultural literacy and advocacy. 

• Current agricultural issues.

• Advancing agriculture through agriculture science.

• Current technology uses and applications in agriculture.

• Agrimarketing and international agriculture.

• Food and fiber systems

Contestants will draw 3, and select 1 to write their speech on. They will have ½ an hour to prepare; 10 minutes of that time may be used to do internet research.

Limit 2 speakers per chapter; 20 speakers max. A wait list will be open with registration if needed. 

Please plan on checking in at the Fairgrounds prior to taking your students to the contests at remote locations. 

The Extemp. Public Speaking Contest will take place at the USU Tremonton campus.