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Story in Brief

Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of in-person events during the summer of 2020, the Southwest District adapted their Winner’s Workshop to a virtual format. A group of 4-H professionals worked together to prepare a Winner’s Workshop where youth could learn ways to efficiently communicate through a recorded video or Zoom interview. The workshop consisted of a Zoom meeting where youth were given tips about what to wear, their appearance on camera, and delivery to a virtual audience. These tips included wearing a color that makes one stand out from their background, elevating one’s camera to face level, speaking with energy, enunciating, and speaking loudly. They also played a manners and etiquette game, were reminded to write thank you notes, and practiced interviews. These tips for being on camera and the interview practice allowed delegates a chance to prepare for communicating in the virtual setting of a virtual State Project Achievement. Twenty-five youth and 20 adults from Southwest District attended the Winner’s Workshop Zoom. All 55 Southwest District delegates had access to a participant guide and a recording of the Zoom meeting to help them prepare for the State Project Achievement Contest. After the workshop, 90 percent of delegates stated they felt more prepared for a virtual contest. These delegates already had strong communication skills to make it to the state contest, but the Winner’s Workshop helped them adapt to communicating in a virtual setting.