Agriculture Communications Competition

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS CDE

Purpose:
To provide individuals with practical communications skills necessary to pursue career opportunities in agricultural communications. Public communications about agricultural products, practices and policies are essential to the future of agriculture. Students who are equipped with strong communication skills, have developed teamwork skills and who can use a variety of media to help the public understand issues related to the industry of agriculture have a bright future in the job market.
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. Teams will consist of three members.
2. It is highly recommended that participants wear FFA Official Dress for this event.
3. Team members will work together to prepare a written media plan prior to the event. The team will also be responsible for presenting the plan at the event and completing individual practicums and tests.
4. During the practicum portion of the event, one team member will be responsible for completing a written communication activity, one team member will be responsible for completing an electronic media activity and one team member will be responsible for completing a visual design activity.
Event Format:
Each November following the national FFA convention, the agricultural communications CDE committee will release event specifications for the next year. The specifications will outline the scenario to be used for the media plan and presentation as well as the specific practicum activities.
1. The host will provide a list of materials that will be provided and those that the team needs to bring.
2. Team members will play the role of communication consultants and develop a media plan for an assigned scenario. A media plan is a written document that includes objectives, target audience, strategic plan and tactics, a timeline, evaluation criteria, and a budget. It should be a maximum of 15 typed pages not including the cover page, table of contents, or references. APA is to be used when citing sources. The media plan should include:
a. Cover page – Must include the title of the media plan, CDE name, chapter name, team member names and year.
b. Table of Contents
c. Executive Summary- 1 page maximum
d. Introduction and Overview- 2 pages maximum
e. Audience- 2 pages maximum
f. Strategic Plan- 6 pages maximum
g. A minimum of three examples must be included in the appendices.
h. Timeline- 1 page maximum
i. Evaluation- 1 pages maximum
j. Budget – 1 page maximum
k. Conclusion- 1 page maximum
l. References
m. Appendices/Examples
3. The team will present the media plan as if they are pitching it to the client identified in the scenario. Each team will be allowed 15 minutes to present its media plan to the judges, who will play the role of the client. The judges will have 5 minutes to ask questions following the presentation. Teams will be allowed a total of 10 minutes for setting up and tearing down.
4. Individual activities include an editing exercise, a communications quiz, and a practicum. Each team will assign a member to complete each of the following practicums: design, electronic media, and writing.
5. All teams will meet for an orientation and press conference. Teams will be seated according to practicum, not chapter. Team members will each receive a press packet and an expert will speak on a current agricultural topic for 20 minutes. Following the press conference, the designer and the electronic media individuals will be dismissed to complete their practicum. Writers will participate in a 10 minutes question/answer time with the expert. Then they will be dismissed to complete their practicum.
6. Participants will have 60 minutes to complete their practicum.
Scoring:
Media Plan Proposal 200
Media Plan Presentation 125
Tests- 150 points possible
Communications Quiz 75 (25 pts/member)
Editing Exercise 75 (25 pts/member)
Practicums- 300 points possible
Writer Practicum 100
Electronic Media Practicum 100
Design Practicum 100
Total individual score possible 150
Total team score possible 775

Tiebreakers:
Team tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
1. Combined individual practicum rank score
2. Proposal rank
3. Presentation rank
B. Individuals tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
1. Practicum score
2. Communications quiz score
3. Editing exercise score
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”.

VIDEOS