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• Get a good night sleep and eat a healthy meal before your presentation. If you think you’ll need a glass of water, have one ready.
• Get to know the equipment you'll be using – especially if you’re planning to use computer and/or projection equipment.
• Have a backup plan in case of emergencies such as a power outage.
• A little warm up exercise (shaking your hands and arms, wiggling your tongue, stretching your neck and mouth, etc.) will help loosen you up.
• Work space: Have everything as neat and orderly as possible. Use lists to be sure you have everything you need and trays and pails for carrying and organizing supplies. Arrange posters in order of use. Remember you are judged on set up and take down!
• ​Avoid reading your notes. Put your outline on a card or on your poster so you can refer to it, but not read it.
• Study the judging sheet to see where and how points are awarded

• Use good posture, look neat and clean, and dress the part.
• Avoid nervous habits such as swaying from side to side, putting your hands in your pockets or standing on one foot, saying “ya know,” “um,” etc.
• Be sure to look at your audience even when you are demonstrating (be sure to practice). Don’t just look at the judge or mom
• No gum chewing please.
• Clean hands and nails are a plus!
• Have good, gentle eye contact with your audience. Stand tall.

(1) Show enthusiasm for your topic. Look like you enjoy what you’re presenting (others will too). Weave personal experience into your presentation where appropriate. (2) (3) Again, bring notes, but do not read directly from them (this cuts down on eye contact.) (4) Make your voice gentle, loud, and clear. (You’ll have a microphone at Fair.) (5) Name any supplies and hold them up so that your audience can see. (6) Keep your work/demonstration area organized – move materials from right to left if you are right handed, or left to right if you are left-handed. (7) Label the backs of posters, books, etc. that you’ll want to reference during your presentation (but you don’t want your audience to necessarily see). (8) Goof-ups happen to everyone! Go right ahead with your presentation; explain what happened. (9) Thank your audience for their attention.

​Talk while you are demonstrating, avoid long periods of silence. Practice “doing” while talking. ​

• Show enthusiasm for your topic. Look like you enjoy what you’re presenting (others will too). Weave personal experience into your presentation where appropriate.
• Again, bring notes, but do not read directly from them (this cuts down on eye contact.)
• Make your voice gentle, loud, and clear.
• Name any supplies and hold them up so that your audience can see.
• Talk while you are demonstrating, avoid long periods of silence. Practice “doing” while talking. ​
• Speak slowly, clearly and loud enough to be heard in the back row

• Remember, goof-ups happen to everyone! Go right ahead with your presentation; explain what happened if necessary.
• Thank your audience for their attention when you are finished.
• ​Ask for questions. Repeat the questions or work them into your answer. If you don’t know the answer, say so and offer to find out and get back to them.​