Skills Contest

Agricultural Communications

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.

Agricultural Mechanics

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.

Agricultural Sales

Students participating in the Agricultural Sales contest have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the field of Agricultural Sales. All students compete in a sales presentation as well as a marketing analysis. One individual from each team completes a different practicum which includes: Consumer Relations, Telephone Skills, Prospecting as well as Advertising and Promotion.

Agronomy

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.

Dairy Cattle Judging 

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 Showmanship

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.

Environmental Skills

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.

Farm Business Management

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.

Food Science 

Floriculture

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.

Forestry

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.

Greenhouse Crop Production

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.

Horse Judging

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.

Land Conservation

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.

Livestock Judging 

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.

Marketing

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

Meats Evaluation

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.

Milk Quality and Products

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 

Nursery/Landscaping

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.

Poultry

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.

Jr High Quiz Bowl

Junior High students participating in the quiz bowl will be able to showcase their FFA knowledge 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.

Meat Rabbit

Students participating in the Meat Rabbit event will gain the real world experience of raising rabbits that are market ready.

Tractor Driving

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.

Vet Science

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. Practical include identifying equipment and parasites as well as preparing a fecal float and preparing an injection.