Our Roots

The Northeast States 4-H Speak Up Festival began in 2021 as a regional collaboration among 4-H educators and leaders across the Northeast. At a time when many traditional public speaking opportunities were limited or disrupted, the virtual festival was created to provide a modern platform for 4-H youth to strengthen their communication skills, connect with peers across state lines, and receive meaningful feedback from trained evaluators and fellow presenters.

The festival was spearheaded by Melanie Forstrom, then the 4-H Program Leader in Ulster County, New York, and now Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County. Forstrom recognized a need for both consistency and innovation in how public presentations were being delivered and evaluated across states. She led a team of regional educators in designing a shared set of tools and expectations that could be used across the Northeast—including standardized training materials, updated rubrics, and coaching resources for both youth and adult volunteers.

A core component of the festival’s design was its emphasis on constructive feedback—not just from trained adult evaluators, but also from youth peers. This created a learning environment where participants could grow their presentation skills in a supportive and reflective setting, all while engaging in a broader conversation with youth outside their own counties and states.

Support for the initiative was bolstered by a Cornell Innovation Grant, which provided funding for evaluator training and virtual event infrastructure. The first festival featured 30 youth participants from nine states—an impressive showing that affirmed both the demand and the value of such a regional opportunity.

The event offered three presentation formats: Demonstration/Illustrated Talk, Formal Speech, and Impromptu Speech. All participants were evaluated using the same criteria, and evaluators followed a regionally aligned rubric to ensure consistency and fairness.

Since its launch, the Speak Up Festival has continued to grow in size and scope, becoming a signature virtual event that supports positive youth development and communication excellence across the Northeast. It stands as a model for how 4-H can evolve with the times—leveraging digital platforms to provide meaningful, educational experiences that reflect the voices and talents of young people.