1. National FFA Career Development Events Revision Highlights - Overview
National FFA
Train-the-Trainer Workshop
Friday, April 29, 2011

2. General CDE Revisions CDE handbook introduction chapter changes
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 – added dairy cattle, milk quality and products (formerly dairy foods), forestry and livestock

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Creed Speaking
Incorporated a consistent, detailed communication rubric for speaking events
No major event changes

9. 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 practicums into team activity.
Written test will have 50 questions: forty questions about dairy management and industry and ten questions utilize dairy herd record evaluation

10. Dairy Cattle Handlers Activity
No activity revisions

11. 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.

12. Extemporaneous Public Speaking
Incorporated a consistent communication rubric for all speaking events
No major event changes

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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).

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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

21. Meats Evaluation and Technology
Team activity – NEW
Includes four scenario-based team practicums chosen from handbook examples each year.
Updated event scan forms

22. 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.

23. 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)

24. 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.

25. 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

26. Prepared Public Speaking
Incorporated a consistent communication rubric for all speaking events
No major event changes

27. Thank you!