Ag Issues Competition

AGRICULTURAL ISSUES FORUM CDE

Purpose:
To provide an opportunity to expose a wide variety of students to selection, research, planning, and presentation of an agricultural issue.
Eligibility:
The event will take place at a site approved by the FFA Board of Trustees.
The number of teams allowed per chapter will be decided by the host site.
See “Eligibility” on pages 13-14.
Procedure:
The event will take place at a site approved by the FFA Board of Trustees. The number of teams allowed per chapter will be decided by the host site.
Event Rules:
1. Professional ethics and standards are to be considered. Ignoring truthful information, falsifying information and plagiarism are violations that may result in disqualification.
2. A minimum of three and a maximum of seven students who are actively participating, orally presenting and available to answer the judges’ questions. An eighth person may be used to operate the technology but cannot take an active part in the presentation or answer judges questions.
3. Presentations may include official FFA dress, costumes, props, skits and other creative paraphernalia.
Event Format:
Equipment provided by host site: projector, TV/VCR, easel, and screen. Other equipment is allowed but must be provided by the participating chapter.
Each team will conduct a presentation on the issue developed and presented at the local level.
The issue must come from one of the following seven agricultural topic areas:
1. Environmental Issues
2. Agricultural Technology Issues
3. Animal Issues
4. Agricultural Career Issues
5. Economy and Trade Issues
6. Agricultural Policy Issues
7. Food Safety Issues

The same agricultural issue presentation and portfolio will not be used in subsequent years by the same chapter.
Portfolio will follow the procedures and scoring as outlined in the National FFA CDE Handbook. Portfolio will be scored only once by a separate panel of judges prior to presentation and that score will move forward to each round. The score sheet is located in CDE handbook.
Presentation scoring will follow the procedures and scoring as outlined in the National FFA CDE Handbook. The score sheet is located in CDE handbook.
The number of times and final round presentations will be determined by the host chapter based on the number of teams competing.
Scoring:
The ranking matrix will be used to determine placing.
Tie Breakers:
Ties will be broken based on the greatest number of low ranks. Team low ranks will be counted and the team with the greatest number of low ranks will be declared the winner. If a tie still exists the event host will rank the teams response to questions, the team with the greatest number of low ranks from the response question will declared the winner. If a tie still exists, the teams’ raw scores will be totaled. Team with the greatest total of raw points will be declared the winner.
Awards:
Team and individual awards as addressed on page 15.
The host chapter reserves the right to present awards as deemed appropriate.
Resources:
• See the “National FFA CDE Handbook”.
National CDE Participation:
The highest ranking eligible team will represent Montana at the National Career Development Event.
See page 78 for more details.

VIDEOS