The Iowa High School Speech Association District Large Group Speech Contest has changed this year, due to the pandemic.

IHSSA is allowing school districts to submit their entries virtually or hire a judge to critique and rate the performances. Greene County and Paton-Churdan have elected to have an on-site judge. Greene County Speech Coach Kelley Gray tells Raccoon Valley Radio six students are competing in three categories, including reader’s theater, group improvisation and musical theater. She says they are doing non-memorized performances this year because of the possible risk for students to have to quarantine. 

Paton-Churdan Speech Coach Kellie Henderson says ten students are competing in four events, including short film, group improvisation, choral reading and radio broadcasting. She adds that students have been connecting virtually for practices leading up to their competition later this week.

Students can qualify for the state contest if they receive a Division I rating from the judge. However, due to the pandemic, there will not be an all-state festival.

Greene County events:

Reader’s Theater: Josey Weaver, Blake Kaufman, Madison Hall, Madison Truitt

Group Improv- Madison Hall and Josey Weaver

Musical Theater- Andrea Grundon and Avery Bardole.

Paton-Churdan events:

Short Film: Autumn Consier, Abby Duckett, Madison Grow and Carmyn Paup

Group Improv: Autumn Consier, Abby Duckett

Choral Reading: Madison Grow, Carmyn Paup, Megan Palmer, Emma Stream, Hailey Saffell, Bailey Anderson, Payton Grow and Paige Bryson

Radio Broadcasting: Payton Grow and Paige Bryson