Resources: Rules and Contest Format

I. Purpose of Event

The Sustainable Agriculture Career Development Event provides FFA members the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various areas of sustainable agriculture. This event will also allow students to explore career opportunities and develop specific knowledge and skills required in the emerging field of sustainable agriculture.

II. Event Rules

  • a. Teams shall consist of three or four members.
  • b. Team ranking is determined by combining the scores of the top three students from each team.
  • c. Invitational events may be held as individual only or team competition.

III. Objectives

  • a. Inspire career interest in sustainable agriculture.
  • b. Demonstrate course relevance to career opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
  • c. Apply technical information and specific skills to job-oriented tasks and problems.

IV. Course Alignment

  • a. Principles of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • b. Advanced Plant and Soil Science
  • c. Horticulture Science
  • d. Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

V. Event Format

  • a. Schedule
    • i. 50 multiple-choice item exam must be completed in 50 minutes
    • ii. 10 problem-solving items will be completed in 30 minutes
    • iii. 25 identification of specimens to be completed in 30 minutes
  • b. Multiple-Choice Questions (100 points)
    • i. Students will complete a 50-item multiple-choice exam.
    • ii. Contestants have 50 minutes to complete the exam.
    • iii. Two points are awarded for each item answered correctly.
  • c. Problem Solving (100 Points)
    • i. This activity assesses each contestant's knowledge and ability related to sustainable agriculture concepts and practices.
    • ii. Contestant's will respond to 10 multiple-choice questions which require interpretation, calculation, synthesis, and/or application of technical information to solve problems associated with an annual theme.
    • iii. Contestants are given 30 minutes to complete the problem-solving portion.
    • iv. Ten points are awarded for each question answered correctly.
    • v. The theme for problem-solving changes each year. Themes for 2024-2028 are provided in the study references document.
  • d. Identification (100 Points)
    • i. Twenty (25) items from list of tools, insects, weeds, and cover crops associated with sustainable agriculture production in Texas.
    • ii. Items for identification may be presented as photos, projected images, or actual specimens/tools.
    • iii. Each contestant will be provided with a list of items that may possibly be presented for identification. Contest providers will distribute this list to the contestants prior to the start of the contest.
    • iv. Each item for possible identification will have a designated ID number that will be used to mark the response on the scan sheet. Students will bubble in the corresponding ID number applicable to the entry number for each of the 25 items in the contest.
    • v. Four points will be awarded for each correctly identified item.

VI. Supplies

  • a. Team members must provide their own No. 2 pencils, transparent clipboard, scan sheet, optional drop sheet (blank paper for notes/calculations)
  • b. Non-programmable calculators may be used
  • c. The “Universal Form C” scan sheet will be used for this CDE.

VII. Scoring

Multiple Choice Questions: 100 points
Problem Solving: 100 points
Identification: 100 points
Total Individual Points: 300 points
Total Team Points: 900 points

VIII. Registration

Registration for this event is by FFA advisors through JudgingCard.

Contact

Dr. Bob Williams,
Mayo Professor of Agriculture, Food, and Family
[email protected] or 903.886.5350

Carolyn Savage,
Graduate Assistant for Sustainable Ag and Food Systems
[email protected]

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