The 2020 large group speech season wrapped up last weekend with the All-State Festival in Ames, but there’s little rest for the local teams as it’s now time for the individual contest.

Speech teams from Perry and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn will be making the short trip to Panorama High School this Saturday for the Iowa High School Speech Association’s District Individual Competition. Perry will be represented by 17 students, performing in 28 different entries, with categories including improv acting, musical theater, radio news, literary program, reviewing, acting, prose, poetry, spontaneous speaking, and storytelling. Meanwhile, ADM will be represented by 26 students in 32 entries, including prose, poetry, acting, musical theater, original oratory, public address, literary program, spontaneous speaking, storytelling, after dinner speech, and expository address.

ADM Speech Coach Jacque Seidl says she is always eager to jump into individual speech, as it offers a completely different experience from group. “We have lots of kids that are really excited about individuals, and that hasn’t always been the case. So that’s really fun to see those kids start to develop a little bit more independence, a little more confidence when it comes to their speaking skills. I’m really excited, and I love individuals, just because you really get to see that kid make so much progress and really shine by themselves!”

District speech will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, and will wrap up at around 6 p.m. The event is open to the public, with a $3 suggested entry fee that will benefit the host school.