Tyler MacLean places second in national 4-H speaking event

“It was really amazing,” he said. “The level of competition is really high calibre. It was an amazing opportunity.”

MacLean was the only club member at the competition and chose careers in agriculture for the subject of his speech. He said his speaking style is simple.

“Every single speech I do, it’s about making an impact,” he said. “Everything I talk about at the events is a call to action. I focus on food. It’s my main subject, and food security is what I tied into my speech.”

MacLean has challenged himself with his speaking pursuits.

“This is my eighth year of 4-H public speaking, but I’ve also done French public speaking,” he said. “Admittedly, it didn’t go great, but it was a good opportunity.”

Aside from food, farming itself is not where he directs all of his work in 4-H. Instead, he concentrates on youth leadership and woodsman activities. He is entering his ninth year in 4-H and is currently the Scotsburn club’s president.

“I don’t do a lot of livestock,” he said. “I focus on youth. The leadership aspect is the main reason why I stayed with it and I really enjoy 4-H. I encourage younger members to be leaders. I’m interested in woodsman events. It’s very hands-on and it has a great competition aspect, as well as social and environmental qualities.”

MacLean’s trip to the speaking event in Toronto had another bonus. He was able to meet 4-H club members who he met during a previous club exchange.

“I spoke to several members from other clubs who were here during the exchange,” he said. “A lot of what we talked about was how different farming is.”

MacLean shared another part of his speech that refers to people affecting agriculture away from actually working the land. He said it has pointed him to a career in engineering.

“I’m interested in agriculture but I want to go the engineering route,” he said. “One topic in my speech was that, to play a role in agriculture, you don’t have to be a farmer.”