KaBella Bruno, a 12-year-old in 7th grade at the Freedom Christian Learning Center and St. Gianna's Friday Coop, recently made it to the State Speech Competition. This is KaBellas’s fourth year in the Boone Country 4H Club, third year in public speaking and her second State Competition for Public Speaking.

KaBella placed first in the Intermediates Division of Prepared Speeches with her speech on Hatching Baby Ducks. She gave this speech at the St. Charles County Achievement Day and was awarded a blue ribbon.

She entered her speech at the St. Charles County Fair as an exhibit where it was displayed in the Kolb Building and was awarded a blue ribbon, the best overall for her category and the grand champion ribbon.

The speeches are required to be 3-5 minutes in length for Juniors (ages 8-10,) 4-6 minutes in length for Intermediates (ages 11-13) and 5-7 minutes in length for Seniors (ages 14-18.) There are six categories of speeches - Prepared, Technology-Assisted, Extemporaneous, Interpretations and Business Pitch Speeches. Two senior first-place winners were chosen to compete in Denver, Colorado, at the 4H Nationals Public Speaking Competition.

Congratulations to KaBella on her outstanding performance. If you would like to join the Boone Country 4H Club, call 636-970-3000. The club meets the second Monday of each month at St. John’s UCC in Cappeln at 7 p.m. and is for ages 5 - 18.