2012 National FFA
Program Revisions
Trends
• Alignment of AFNR (Agriculture Foods and Natural
Resources) content standards to awards and
recognition program areas
– http://www.teamaged.org/council/images/stories/pdf/finalafnr
standardsv324609withisbn_000.pdf
• Increase rigor and relevance based on current needs
of business and industry
Trends
• Expansion of Career Development Events
– Veterinary Science (convention workshop 2011)
– Agriscience Research
• Evaluation of skills - proficiency awards
• Capture instructional time for each pathway –
American Degree
• The launch of the Agriculture Career Network
What’s Next?
• August 2011
– Revised handbooks released to general population
• School year 2011-12
– Revised formats and applications
– National CDE revisions begin to take effect with some
North Carolina changes
• National FFA Convention 2012
– All events delivered using revised rules and formats.
Agriscience Fair
Revisions
Agriscience Fair
• New Categories
– Animal Systems (AS)
– Environmental Services/Natural
Resource Systems (ENR)
– Food Products and Processing (FPP)
– Plant Systems (PS)
– Power, Structural and Technical
Systems (PST)
– Social Systems (SS)
Agriscience Fair
• Eligibility
– Places in top 3 of category/
division, can no longer compete in
that category/division
Agriscience Fair
• Extension of projects
– Must be new research
– Must fill out extension form
– Only will be judged on research
from current year
– All documentation must reflect the
new research
Agriscience Fair
• Pre-qualifying process
– States must declare by June 1
– Written report and fair application
postmarked by August 15
– Panel will determine top 15 in each
category/division
– Maximum of 360 exhibits
– Report score will count for
25% of fair judging
– Refer to pre-qualifying form
Agriscience Fair
• Required forms with report
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Application
J-1 Certification
J-2 Certification
Project Extension (if needed)
Non-Human Vertebrate
Human Vertebrate
Checklist for Sponsor/Safety
Research Expenses
Hazardous Material
Research Plan Approval
Agriscience Fair Displays
– Logbook
• Accurate/detailed notes of project
– Display
• Stable and free standing
• Any objects within guidelines
• Size limitations
– 48” wide
– 30” deep
– 108” tall (floor to top) including table (36”)
• Nothing can be touching the floor
– Interview
• Maximum of 15 minutes
Risk Management Essay
• For students who manage a
small business through their
SAE’s.
• Seeing a decrease in essays
• Top 10 get a trip to Washington
– Teacher and advisor
Risk Management
• Currently under revision and will
look different when done.
– New rules next year
• Contest in the spring
Risk Management
• Lesson plans website
– ffa.learn.com
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
People exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise creative
freedoms, higher self-esteem, and an
overall greater sense of control over
their own lives.
Agri-Entrepreneurship
https://www.ffa.org
Under “Programs” click on
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
•2012-2016 Revisions
–State staff signature will be required
–Applications will accepted from the
chapters, but state staff signature will
ensure that state staff is informed regarding
applications from their state
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
 Who is Eligible?
 All FFA members with an
Entrepreneurial SAE or who plan
to start one (middle school through
college)
 Multiple applications from
states/chapters are accepted
 Only one chapter winner
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
• Participation
 2006 – 69 applications, 24 states
 2010 – 117 applications, 31 states
1 in 11.7 chance of getting
$1,000
 Program high in 2009 – 124
applications
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
• Award Amounts
 $150 for chapter winner
 $250 for state winner
 $1,000 for each of the 10 national
winners
 $500 for the winner’s chapter
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
 Application Hints
 Weighted heavily toward business plan and
financials
 Timeline
 Need to be projected into the future
 Marketing
 Failure to identify competition and how member’s
business is differentiated from competition
Agri-Entrepreneurship
Program
 Application and resource materials are
available.
 https://ffa.learn.com
 https://www.ffa.org/programs/awards/Ag
ri-Entrepreneurship/Pages/default.aspx
 Sample business plans
 Templates for balance sheets
 Templates for cash flow statements
SAE Grant Program
• Use to help start or improve a student’s SAE
• All FFA members in grades 7-11
– Included middle school
– Primarily for financial need
• Animal Systems highest with Food Systems
least
• Applications online at www.ffa.org
– Process starts September 1st
– Deadline November 15th
2012-2016
Proficiency Addition
Agriscience Proficiency
• Transition of Agriscience Student
Award/Scholarship Program
– Teacher input and requests
– Expansion of opportunities to
recognize more students
• Same process and awards as
technical proficiency
Agriscience Proficiency
• Phase in process
– Only 3 areas for 2012
• Animal Systems Research
• Plant Systems Research
• Other Research
– Environmental Service systems/Natural Resource
Systems Research
– Food Products and Processing Systems Research
– Power, Structural and Technical Systems
Research
– Social Sciences Research
– Diversified Research (2 or more research areas)
Agriscience Proficiency
• Additional areas will be added
– All contingent on funding and
participation
– Released by June 1
Agriscience Proficiency
• Application
– Similar to technical application
– Few pages different due to type of
SAE (research)
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Research SAE summary page
Research expense page
Encourage to include biotech competencies
Research information for documentation
– MUST have expense page, abstract,
procedure and conclusion for each
research project
Proposed Career
Development Events
Agriscience Research CDE
• New CDE
– Currently in Framework Stage
– Role-out Plan
• 2012 convention workshop for teachers
• 2013 trial event, each state may send 2
teams to participate
• 2014 full event with scholarships and
awards
• Format
– 4 components
Agriscience Research CDE
1. Pre-convention event
– Team research project
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All 4 team members
Research project done on local issue
Report postmarked by August 15
Presentation of report findings to panel
– 15 minute presentation with 5 minutes of
questions
Agriscience Research CDE
2. Team Activity
– All 4 team members work
collaboratively
– Research scenario
• Draw a scenario from the 6 categories
• 60 minutes to:
– Identify appropriate research question
– Develop research proposal
• 10 minute presentation
• 10 minutes for questions
Agriscience Research CDE
3. Individual Practicum
– Research Critique
• Completed by all 4 team members
individually
• Presented with research report
– 60 minutes to develop critique
» Methods
» Processes
» Conclusions
» Recommendations
Agriscience Research CDE
4. Knowledge Based Exam
– All 4 team members will take individually
– 50 question multiple choice
Veterinary Science CDE
• New CDE
– Currently in Framework Stage
– Role-out Plan
• 2011 convention workshop for teachers
• 2012 trial event, each state may send 2
teams to participate
• 2013 full event implementation the
national convention
• Format
– 4 components
• All four members’ scores count
Veterinary Science CDE
1. Identification Activity
– Written activity
• All 4 team members
– 50 High-level thinking questions
• Tools/Equipment
• Breeds
• Anatomy
– ID list to be provided by comittiee
Veterinary Science CDE
2. Team Activity
– All 4 team members work
collaboratively
– Clinical Scenario
– Example
• Develop a patient care plan for a type
of animals (companion, equine, food,
exotics on a rotation)
• Members assume a role
– Vet, vet tech, vet assistant, receptionist
Veterinary Science CDE
3. Individual Practicum
– Math Applications
– Health and Safety
– Clinical Procedures
Veterinary Science CDE
4. Knowledge Based Exam
– All 4 team members will take individually
– 50 question multiple choice
2012-2016 Career
Development Events
General CDE Revisions
• All CDEs aligned with AFNR standards
• Team activities - increased overall impact on
total score and added process/teamwork score,
where appropriate
• Four new events to use all four scores for total
team score
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dairy Cattle Management & Evaluation
Milk Quality and Products (formerly dairy foods)
Forestry
Livestock
Agricultural
Communications
• Number of team members will be decreased from five to
three
• Changed the “communications proposal” to a “media plan”
• Media plan submitted electronically as PDF
• Practicums will be based on the main three areas of
communication industry
• Actual activities in practicum areas will be rotated each year
and teams will be informed of the specific activities by
November after national FFA convention for the next year’s
event
• Included more detailed descriptors in all scorecards
• Normalized scores are used to eliminate the inconsistency
between practicum scores
Agricultural Issues Forum
• Portfolio deadline moved from September 15 to
August 15; taking effect in 2011
• Portfolios should be submitted with one staple or
spiral binding; no binders, folders, sheet
protectors, etc.
• Presentation scorecard – same point allocation,
added descriptors
• Portfolio title stated in the form of a question
Agricultural Sales
• New event will be composed of three parts – Team Activity,
Individual Sales Activity and Individual Written Exam
• Product(s) used in team activity and individual sales activity will be
chosen by committee and released before convention in the team
orientation packet and FFA website. Participants will not be
selecting their own product for the individual sales call activity.
• Team activity consists of composing a pre-call plan for a variety of
customer types and present findings to judges.
• Information and product(s) from the team activity will be used in the
individual sales activity.
• Emphasis on rapport building and probing questions in individual
sales activity.
Agricultural Technology and
Mechanical Systems
• Changed name from Agricultural Mechanics to
Agricultural Technology and Mechanical
Systems
• Omitted industry/marketing system practicum
and added electrical systems practicum
• Revised team activity rubric to include
teamwork/process scores
Agronomy
• Updated regional crop list
• Incorporated a yearly rotation in the grain
grading practicum.
• Grain grading scorecard will be crop specific and
released before convention in team orientation
packet.
• Updated weeds, crops and machinery
identification lists
Creed Speaking
• Incorporated a consistent, detailed
communication rubric for speaking events
• No major event changes
Dairy Cattle Management and
Evaluation
• Changed name from Dairy Cattle Evaluation to Dairy Cattle Management
and Evaluation
• All four scores will count for total team score.
• Team activity – NEW
– Dairy farm management scenario with problem identification and
solution recommendations given by participants in a presentation to
judges.
– Presentation content and communication are evaluated
• Incorporated linear evaluation, pedigree and sire selection practicum into a
team activity.
• Written test will have 50 questions: forty questions about dairy
management and industry and ten questions utilize dairy herd record
evaluation
Dairy Cattle Handlers
Activity
• No activity revisions
Environmental Natural
Resources
• Teams will be evaluated on their ability to work together in
team activity.
• Changed annual practicums to consist of a writing exercise
and identification (omitted global issues interview).
• Increased emphasis on writing exercise in the team activity as
well as individual practicums.
• Soil analysis (replaced soil nutrient test) and soil profile
practicums revised to include analysis of lab results and
interpretation guides.
• Revised all scorecards to include more description and
detailed rubrics.
Extemporaneous Public
Speaking
• Incorporated a consistent
communication rubric for all
speaking events
• No major event changes
Farm Business Management
• Incorporate more diverse farms (i.e. orchards,
vineyards) in the event problem
• Included team activity observers’ scoresheet to
handbook.
• No major event changes.
Floriculture
• Added equipment identification list.
• Incorporating computers into event as a whole
instead of having just one specific “computer
skills” practicum as a rotating option.
• Incorporated “Potting of Plant Cuttings,”
“Asexual Propagation of Plants” and “Pinching
Plants” from individual practicums to the
“Growing Procedures” rotational practicum.
Food Science and
Technology
• Customer inquiry activity will be replacing customer
complaint letter activity.
• Food safety/sanitation practicum to include more than
just photos in the situations (e.g. videos, written
scenarios, etc.)
• “Difference testing” changed to “flavor identification”
practicum; same activity, different name
• Updated list of aromas (deleted peanut butter and
almond)
• Included more detailed descriptors in the team product
development scorecard
Forestry
• All four scores will count for total team score.
• Timber cruising changed from a rotational
individual practicum to an annual individual
activity
• Equipment identification changed from an
annual individual activity to a rotational
individual practicum.
• Updated tree identification specimen list
(added 14 specimens to list).
• Updated equipment identification list (added 4
items to list).
• Updated tree disorders identification list
(added 2 items and deleted 4 items on list).
Horse Evaluation
• Identification classes changed from team
activity to individual activity
• Team activity – NEW
– Part 1: Practical Application Activities
– Part 2: Team Scenario and Presentation
Job Interview
• Utilize electronic/online job application instead of paper forms.
• The telephone interview has been changed to an “initial
telephone contact” where the participant will be contacted by the
company’s human resources department to set up interview time,
ask clarifying questions, etc.
• All scores from preliminary round will be carried over for
participants advancing to the final round.
• Incorporated a scenario-based, impromptu networking activity
(i.e. career fair, mixer) for top eight participants in final round
• Included more detailed descriptors in all event scorecards
Livestock Evaluation
• All four scores will count for total team score.
• Team activity – NEW
– Assessment and solutions on a live animal class (all
team members work together)
– Market Scenario Activity – 2 team members work
together (randomly selected at event)
– Genetic Scenario Activity – 2 team members work
together (randomly selected at event)
Marketing Plan
• Creating an event guidebook for the marketing
principles that are essential to the event and
industry.
• Additional 3-5 minutes (depending on round) of
question and answer time about general
marketing.
• Separated written plan and presentation score
cards; included more detailed descriptors in the
scorecards
Meats Evaluation and
Technology
• Team activity – NEW
– Includes four scenario-based team practicums
chosen from handbook examples each year.
• Updated event scan forms
Milk Quality and Products
• Name Change: Milk Quality and Products
• Adopted positive scoring
• Eliminated milker part identification activity
• Added cheese property characterization to the cheese
identification activity
• Added fat content identification
• Team activity to include acceptability tests on raw milk with
verbal presentation addressing results, impacts and
improvement methods.
Nursery/Landscape
• Phase 1 – Team activity is the same (scenario and
presentation), but has different general themes:
– Promotions, start up business plan, consulting, customer service,
service-learning or community involvement
• Phase 2 – Team Skills Challenge – NEW
– Includes more application/hands-on activities
• Eliminated landscape drawing activity and
assessment/solution activity.
• Increased overall event activity focus on commercial,
residential, public and recreational use of nursery and
landscape principles (including interiorscapes and turf
grass)
Parliamentary Procedure
• Written exam will be changed to the Society of
Agricultural Education Parliamentarians (SAEP)
accreditation exam
• Included more detailed descriptors in the minutes
scorecard
• Updated “Form 2 – Team Score Sheet”
• Teams advancing to the semifinal and final rounds will
complete a short parliamentary procedure scenario
outlining a practical problem instead of the secretary’s
minutes. Minutes will still be presented in the preliminary
round.
Poultry Evaluation
• Class name changes
• Split further processed poultry meat products
into two classes – boneless and bone-in classes.
• Expanded classes 8 and 9 to include 15 eggs for
exterior quality grading and evaluation criteria
Prepared Public Speaking
• Incorporated a consistent
communication rubric for all
speaking events
• No major event changes