Come to the Annual State FFA Leadership Conference!
The State FFA Leadership Conference is the largest event put on by the Arizona Association and has grown to be a gathering of almost one thousand FFA members from across the state for a weekend full of learning, awards recognition, and fun at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It is at this annual event that the new Arizona FFA State Officers are elected, members receive their State FFA Degrees, ten different Career Development Events have their state finals, workshops are put on by National FFA Officers, and so much more! The State FFA Leadership Conference is open to all FFA members, advisors, parents, and school administration who would like to attend and be supportive of the FFA Organization.
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The State FFA Leadership Conference includes the following opportunities:
State Leadership Conference Online Exams
Agricultural Issues - This CDE begins by developing a presentation about an agricultural issue, based on criteria outlined in the CDE handbook. From the start, member teams develop a portfolio and deliver a presentation that stresses both pros and cons of an agricultural issue. At the event competition, you use verbal skills and presentation abilities to defend your findings and answer judges’ questions.
Conduct of Meetings - This Career Development Event is designed for Greenhand FFA Members seeking knowledge and experience with parliamentary procedure. It is a team event consisting six members, including a chairperson. The team demonstrates their knowledge by presenting opening ceremonies and a mock meeting. This will prepare students to properly run effective business meetings and correctly handle motions.
Chapter Display - This Career Development Event allows chapters to work together to showcase what their chapter has done in the past year. By working together as a chapter to construct a display board which represents their chapter, FFA members are able to reflect on the year and all that they have accomplished.
Reporter Award - Students participating in the Reporter CDE will demonstrate knowledge in writing and public relations skills. This CDE gives the chapter reporter an opportunity to display and receive recognition for news stories, news releases, articles, and photographs they have prepared.
Internet - Chapters participating in the Internet CDE will demonstrate proficiency in designing and publishing a web site for their chapter. A variety of criteria will be used in evaluating the website including photos, overall look/design of the site, and the use of links within the document.
Newsletter - Chapters participating in this CDE will demonstrate proficiency in preparing and distributing a regular and reoccurring publication to partner groups highlighting the activities of the chapter. Newsletters will be judged on the overall design of the document as well as how effectively the chapter uses copy in telling the story of the chapter and the organization.
Scrapbook - Chapters participating in this CDE will demonstrate proficiency in preparing a yearly scrapbook highlighting the accomplishments of the chapter. The scrapbooks will be judged on quality, and number of newspaper photos, individual photos, and inches published.
Parliamentary Procedure - Choose this CDE if you want to learn and polish parliamentary skills. At the competition, members complete a written exam. Teams then conduct a mock chapter meeting to demonstrate knowledge of basic parliamentary law and the use of correct parliamentary procedures.
Extemporaneous Speaking - In this CDE, students deliver a speech on one of three agricultural topics after 30 minutes of preparation. It’s great practice to learn how to think on your feet and make your case quickly and persuasively. After each speech, judges may ask related questions.
Prepared Public Speaking - In this CDE, students write and deliver a six- to eight-minute speech about a current agricultural subject. The experience will help you excel in school, community and career settings. Participants are rated based on the written speech, speech delivery and their answers to judges’ questions.
Agriscience Fair - The Agriscience Fair provides middle and high school students the opportunity to achieve local, state and national recognition for their accomplishments in Agriscience. This program also gives students a chance to demonstrate and display Agriscience projects that are extensions of their agri-science courses.
Students are recognized for their achievements in the following areas:
Proficiency Awards which are earned on the state level for a variety of different award areas by students who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in their Supervised Agricultural Experience in either the area of Placement, meaning that the student worked for an employer, or Entrepreneurship, meaning the student owned and maintained their own business.
Star Awards are given to those students who have excelled in their Proficiency Award area and submitted an exemplary application that showcases their ability to not only maintain their Supervised Agricultural Experience but demonstrate growth within their project. State Star Awards are given for State Star in Agribusiness, State Star in Agriscience, State Star Farmer, State Star in Agricultural Placement, and State Star Greenhand.
State FFA Degree recipients are honored during the State FFA Leadership Conference as they have earned the highest award that the state can give to an FFA member for their commitment and participation in the Organization. These awards can only be earned after the student has already attained their Greenhand and Chapter degrees.
Scholarship Recipients are recognized for their commitment to the Organization and being awarded any of the Arizona FFA State Scholarships or National FFA Scholarships.
Other Activities that students can participate in:
Chapter Basket Contest - For this contest a chapter puts together a basket using items that reflect their chapter and community. Baskets are voted on by conference attendees and the winner is determined on the amount of money donated by the attendees to each basket. The proceeds of this contest go towards the Alumni Scholarship Fund. The winning chapter receives $150 for first place and $50 for first place in Silent Auction.
State FFA Talent – Chapter FFA members have the opportunity to add to the enthusiasm and overall atmosphere of the State Leadership Conference by providing entertainment at the leadership conference. Musical entertainment is preferred; however, other types may be appropriate. Entertainment/talent will be selected on the basis of time of request, nature of talent, and balance of the overall program. Have your chapter's talent represented at the FFA Conference this year!
Workshops - Students interested in developing their leadership skills and prepare for future responsibilities within the organization should attend these workshops. Presented by visiting state and national officers, these workshops will prove to be well worth your time.
Delegate Responsibilities - Each year the Arizona Association FFA allocates two voting delegates to each chapter. Delegates are selected by their chapter to not only represent their chapter to conduct business in the best interest of Arizona FFA. This responsibility and privilege is taken very seriously by each delegate. Those members selected to be delegates to the Arizona FFA State Leadership Conference must complete a confirmation form to be submitted to the State Office by May 1. During their time as delegates, these students will be responsible for conducting official business for the State Association, such as the election of officers, constitutional amendments and policy recommendations.
Arizona FFA Chorus - We all know that FFA members can run their own businesses, give knock-out speeches, and solve problems in their schools and communities. But did you know that many of them can sing too? Click here to learn more about Arizona FFA's chorus.
Discussion Meet - This even is promoted by Arizona Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and the FFA organization. The contest itself involves a moderator and 4-6 contestants. The moderator’s responsibility is to introduce the topic and the contestants, start the discussion, keep in on track and see that no monopolizes the time. The contestants discuss a pre-selected topic. Each participant’s responsibility is to exchange ideas and information in an effort to solve a problem. The discussion should not be “conversational” or aimless talk nor should the participant take the role of a persuasive speaker. The participant should attempt to cooperatively shed further light on the problem and tentatively retain a flexible position. A successful participant is a productive thinkers rather than an emotional persuader, who is free to state beliefs and change positions whenever new information and ideas make that a reasonable thing to do.
General Conference Sessions – These sessions include the recognition of award recipients, keynote speeches, officer elections, highlight videos and a lot of enthusiasm. There are 4 main general sessions throughout the conference.
Conference Dances are held during the State FFA Leadership Conference at the main conference hotel in the ballroom after all of the general sessions are completed. Students always enjoy the opportunity to mix and mingle with other students from across the state.
Advisors, Alumni, Chaperones and other adults attending the conference can participate in the following:
Arizona FFA Alumni Reception and Silent Auction is a dinner event offered to members of the Arizona FFA Alumni for their continued support of the state association.
Arizona Agricultural Education/FFA Foundation Dinner is an event held to recognize the continued supporters of the Arizona FFA. Sponsors, past officers and alumni are invited to this event to help celebrate the fundraising efforts of the Foundation and to participate in a silent auction. Each teacher and his/her guest will receive a complimentary ticket to the event.
Please see your advisor today to find out how you can attend! Please click here for more information and registration forms.