Provincial Communications Finals 2025 - Rambles and Reflections By Sophia K.
I never thought I’d be in a category with BC’s top 4-H speakers and demonstrators. All of the practice, revision, and long nights of preparation had finally paid off, and I was ready to give the judges everything I’ve got. What I didn’t know was that I would emerge from this program not only a stronger speaker, but with new friends, treasured memories, and a larger perspective on agriculture.
Thank you madame speaker, honourable judges, ladies … oops I am still in speech mode. From July 10th-12th, 2025, 4-H BC’s top qualified speakers and demonstrators gathered at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops for a weekend of competition and fun. The Provincial Communications Finals program included everything from bonding experiences to educational farm tours and fierce contesting. This article will cover an overview of the weekend from a member’s perspective, and include a few words for members considering attending.
As members rolled in on Thursday night, they were greeted with smiles from our volunteer team who assisted them with check-in and event information. Once everyone had settled in, we gathered for dinner and each one of us introduced ourselves to the group. The evening ended with some icebreaker games such as “people bingo,” and free time in which members played sports and board games and had opportunities to practice their presentations.
Friday morning began with a hearty breakfast that, in my opinion, made up for the early wakeup time. Members then departed for agricultural tours around the Kamloops area, where they learned all about Indigenous agricultural practices. The tours included Skeetchestn School, Sweláp Market, the Secwépemc Museum, and a 5000 acre local ranch. These places taught members everything from Indigenous agricultural history in BC to how the Indigenous community manages the generation and sale of their produce. My personal favourite tour was Skeetchestn school because our guide was a 4-H alumnus, and I found it was very interesting to see the positive change that 4-H values are facilitating in BC. I also admired how the school incorporates agriculture and animal care into their curriculum, and how they are actively developing the next generation of farmers. Overall, the tours were incredibly enlightening and gave each member a fresh outlook on BC agriculture.
On Saturday morning, the competition began. As friends and family cheered in-person and online, speakers delivered their impromptus on the outlined topic, which this year was “Indigenous Food Practices: Growing Community.” After a relaxing lunch break, the demonstration teams had their time to shine, covering everything from baking to changing a tire. The awards ceremony took place at dinner, and the top 3 from speeches and demonstrations were announced. Congratulations to the winners and all of the members who made an effort to deliver quality presentations!
If you are considering working towards Provincial Communications Finals, I would highly recommend it. I emerged from this program a stronger and more knowledgeable person, not to mention with a few new friends in my contacts. As nerve wracking as it seems, this experience is truly one of a kind and I guarantee that you will never forget it. Thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, sponsors, and members who made this program possible, and I look forward to seeing what next year's communicators have to offer.