Catch Amanda on the Road in 2024

As I pause to catch my breath after tackling 14 speeches in the first 11 weeks of 2024, and as I prepare to hit the road for another run of three speeches this week, I just can't help but feel grateful for the opportunities that have come my way -- to share my message, to connect with people, to celebrate agriculture, to serve others, and to truly get to see what makes up the #heartofruralamerica

It's sometimes hard to believe this all started for me as an 8-year-kid when my parents signed me up for my first public speaking contest. I'm thankful for their foresight in helping me find my voice, giving me strong values on which to stand on, and teaching me how to think critically and articulate those ideas to others.

It didn't come easy though. I learned by doing -- juggling notecards, making posters, nervous jitters, forgetting my lines, not knowing the answers to questions, getting tripped up in interviews, PowerPoint glitches, microphone malfunctions, and the list goes on.

I’ve presented in tiny rooms, dive bars, mega stages, schools, universities, libraries, barns, casinos, cattle sales, backyards, on tv & in radio stations, and I’ve learned to navigate the unique challenges of each setting.

This spring, I plan to share what I've experienced in nearly 30 years of public speaking, through an intense communications course that will cover all the bases. The course will have two tiers -- one for young people and another for professionals -- and I look forward to sharing it with you all soon. 

If you are interested, shoot me a message with your email address, and I'll get you on the list. After countless requests to do this, I am eager to help others and to give back this way. Please, share this information with other families, FFA advisors, 4-H leaders, coaches, teachers, and students who might benefit from this course. 

Watch for updates on www.amandaradke.com. Hope to see you on the dusty trail soon!