Every October, something remarkable happens when young people from across the Northeast step up to share what they know, what they've learned, and what they believe. That's the 4-H Northeast States Speak Up Fest - and the 6th annual event is coming.
Our annual virtual event is designed to empower youth ages 13-19 from across the Northeastern United States to enhance and showcase their communication skills. Twelve states and the Disctrict of Columbia are represented - from Maine and New Hampshire all the way down through Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and into West Virginia. When you take the stage at Speak Up Fest, you're not just speaking for yourself. You're speaking for your state.
What makes the event truly special isn't just the competition - it's the community. A key component of the Speak Up Fest is the constructive feedback provided by trained evaluators and peers, helping participants refine their communication abilities and build confidence. You'll leave a better speaker than you arrived, guaranteed.
And the future is bright. The hope is to grow this event into a national, in-person event - which means the 2026 Speak Up Fest could be a landmark moment in that journey. Getting involved now means being part of something that's growing into something much bigger.
So start your topic. Work with your county. Compete at the state level and earn your spot.
The Northeast is listening and soon it'll be your turn to Speak Up.
Use the "2026 Event" drop down menu to navigate registration, rubrics, schedule and more.