Eileen Shafer had her audience hooked throughout her humorous interpretation performance at Sunday's 4-H/FFA Public Speaking Contest at the University Extension Center.
The local youth did her own rendition of the famous "Hee Haw" TV show speech, "Rindercella," a funny take on "Cinderella."
Giving humorous speeches are a challenge by themselves, but this speech offers a separate layer of difficulty: Many of the words in her speech are mispronounced for comical effect.
"Once upon a time in a corn bountry, there lived a beautiful birl, and her name was Rindercella," her speech started.
Ten area kids signed up to give 15 speeches at Sunday's event, although at least a couple entrants didn't make it. The annual event is in conjunction with the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair, which runs this week.
Christal Huber, the 4-H youth specialist who ran the event, said the event is a way to get local youth to speak in front of people and lose their fear of public speaking.
"It prepares them for those life skills that they'll use in whatever career they have," she said.
The competition featured judges Jeff Hoelscher, Eastern District Cole County commissioner and a member of the Cole County Extension Council; and Kelli Jo Buettner of FCS Financial and the Missouri 4-H Foundation. The timer was Mackenzie Loesch of the Missouri State 4-H Council.
The judges gave Shafer and the other contestants generally positive feedback after their speeches.
After a speech by Troy Ludwig, a Helias sophomore and Linn resident, Buettner said: "You're incredible. You're very talented inside and outside this room."
Shafer said she's participated in the event for the past four years or so.
"I just enjoy getting up in front of people, especially when I can make them laugh," she said.
She said the event has given her confidence in her public speaking abilities. Her "Rindercella" speech, in particular, has helped her with pronunciation, she said.
"Being able to pronounce mixed up words helps me pronounce words correctly," she said.