Career Development Events

Skills Contests

Entry fee is $25/team. Registration begins at 8:00 am and contests will begin as soon as registration is completed, approximately 8:30 am. All contests are finished by 12 noon.

Students participating in the Agricultural Communications contests have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Agricultural Communications. Students who are in the Agricultural Communications contest take a quiz, followed by an editing exercise. Each student is assigned a practicum to complete which includes Press Release, Broadcast, News, Graphic Design and Webpage Design.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Agricultural Mechanics contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Agricultural Mechanics. Students take both a generalized test as well as a hands-on skills test. Students will have the opportunity to work with both electrical systems as well as mechanical systems.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Agricultural Sales contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Agricultural Sales. All students compete individually in a sales presentation with a product of their choice. Each team competes, as a team, in a Pre-Call Planning Team Event. Two individuals from each team compete individually in a Consumer Relations Practicum while the other two individuals from each team compete individually in a Telephone Skills Practicum. All team members participate in a written test, taken as a team.

Samples

Previous Practicums

Previous Exams

Other Resources

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Agronomy contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the area of Field Crops. Participants will be asked to identify crop seeds, crop plants, weed seeds, weed plants and insects. Participants will also take a quiz over general field crop knowledge as well as distinguish between various crop disorders.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Dairy Cattle Judging contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging dairy cattle. Each contestant will place eight classes of eight dairy animals based on type. Classes will consist of heifers, young cows, or mature cows. Classes will be selected from the five major dairy cattle breeds: Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, and Jersey. Contestants will have the opportunity to expand on their knowledge of dairy cattle characteristics and the relationship between structure and function.

Dairy Cattle Judging is $25 per team.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Dairy Cattle Showmanship contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in showing dairy cattle. Contestants will have the opportunity to learn more about showing cattle while participating in this contest through both answering questions as well as showing the cattle.

Dairy Cattle Showmanship is $12 per person.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Environmental Skills contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Environmental Skills. Members compete in tasks designed to test students on Soil Analysis, Water Quality/Aquatics Identification, Plant and Tree Identification, Michigan Wildlife Identification, GPS/Environmental Tools Identification and Ecosystem Analysis.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Farm Business Management contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Farm Business Management. Students learn about the economical factors that help producers run the financial portion of their business effectively.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Floriculture contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the area of floriculture. Students participate in a four part contest consisting of identification, general knowledge/problem solving exam and floral design practicum (copy design and corsage making). Contestants have the opportunity to take the test to be certified by the Michigan Floral Association.

Floriculture Identification Information

Useful Sources

Floral Certification Information

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Forestry contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the area of forestry. Students participate in a five part contest consisting of tree identification, tree measurement, equipment identification, woodland management as well as compass and pacing skills. This contest allows student to further their knowledge in managing a Michigan forest.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Greenhouse Crop contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of greenhouse crop production. Members participate in a four part contest consisting of a general knowledge exam, greenhouse plant material identification, problem solving session and a practicum where they can demonstrate their practical expertise. This lets members further expand their skills in raising greenhouse crops.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Horse Judging contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging horses. Each contestant will place two halter classes and two performance classes. Contestants will have the opportunity to expand on their knowledge of horse performance and conformation traits.

The horse judging contest will be held in conjunction with the annual 4-H Horse Jamboree at the MSU Pavilion on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The registration fee is $10.00 per participant.

Registrations are due on Monday, April 1, 2024 via the online registration to the Animal Science Dept.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Land Conservation contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging parcels of land. Each team will judge parcels of land on soil structure, nutrient levels and acceptability of parcel for alternative uses.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Livestock Judging contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging beef cattle, sheep and swine. Each contestant will place two classes of each species. Contestants will have the opportunity to expand on their knowledge of livestock characteristics and the relationship between structure and function. Registration is $10 per participant.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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To assist students to gain an understanding of the marketing process through the development and presentation of a marketing plan.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Meats Judging contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging cuts of meat. Participants will judge two retail classes, two beef classes and two pork classes. Contestants will have the opportunity to expand on their knowledge of meat quality.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiffany Rogers-Randolph at (517) 353-9221 or email roger187@msu.edu.
Registration fees are due at the time of registration. Registration is $10 per participant.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Milk Quality and Products contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in judging dairy foods. Participants will judge milk based on flavor, odor and California Mastitis Test. Students will also identify various types of cheese and milking unit defects.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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Students participating in the Nursery/Landscape contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of nursery plants as well as landscaping. Participants will be judged on their ability to identify plant materials, evaluate plant disorders, identify equipment, as well as demonstrating knowledge on safety, plant propagation and landscape design and construction. Students that earn a 70% or higher overall score on this CDE will earn a (CGIP) Certified Green Industry Professional – Core Certificate from the (MNLA) Michigan Nursery Landscape Association for free and waive the normal non-member $100 exam fee.

Useful Sources

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the poultry contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the wide field of poultry science. Participants will be judged on their ability to judge eggs, production birds, ready-to-eat birds, chicken patties, as well as identify breeds, anatomical parts and diseases. Participants will also take a general poultry knowledge test. Through this contest students will have the opportunity to expand on their knowledge of poultry.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Junior High students participating in the quiz bowl will be able to showcase their FFA knowldege in a fun, competitive format. Teams of three to five junior high members face off to answer questions relating to FFA history, parliamentary procedure and other FFA trivia.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Tractor Driving contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities to maneuver a tractor and trailer. Besides driving a tractor and trailer through an obstacle course, students also take a test on tractor safety.

Tractor driving is $6.00 per person.

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

Students participating in the Veterinarian Science contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the wide field of veterinarian science. Students take a general knowledge test as well as several breed identification quizzes. Practicals include identifying equipment and parasites as well as preparing a fecal float and preparing an injection.

Contest Information

Veterinary Science Identification Information

E-mail questions or comments to: association@michiganffa.org

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