WELCOME!
This page is designed to assist your team in preparing to compete in the Minnesota FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event! Check out all of the resources available and feel free to contact us if you have additional questions.
Get your students involved in the next Ag Com CDE!
Not familiar with the Ag Com CDE?
In this video, former UMN Ag Education Student and current teacher, Joe Ramstad explains the event and the many benefits of getting involved. |
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Disclaimer:
New in 2020, a major change to how we have run this CDE in the past is that teams will NOT be required to create a media plan prior to the event. We are removing this portion of the event from the state contest, following the lead of other state contests, because we found it was frequently a barrier for participation. The winning team will then receive specific training for the media plan practicum from UMN students and faculty as they prepare for the national event.
New in 2020, a major change to how we have run this CDE in the past is that teams will NOT be required to create a media plan prior to the event. We are removing this portion of the event from the state contest, following the lead of other state contests, because we found it was frequently a barrier for participation. The winning team will then receive specific training for the media plan practicum from UMN students and faculty as they prepare for the national event.
BASIC INFO FOR STARTERS:
According to the Minnesota Agricultural Communication CDE Handbook:
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"The purpose of the agricultural communications career development event is to provide individuals with practical communications skills necessary to pursue career opportunities in agricultural communications. Public communications about agricultural products, practices and policies are essential to the future of agriculture. Students who are equipped with strong communication skills, have developed teamwork skills and who can use a variety of media to help the public understand issues related to the industry of agriculture have a bright future in the job market."
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The contest is structured in a way that provides students with the ability to demonstrate their communication knowledge and expertise in a hands-on method. Students have the opportunity to complete individual exams and practicums.
CONTEST COMPONENTS
This CDE has teams of 4 students:
1 Web Designer - 1 Video Producer - 1 Journalistic Writer - 1 Opinion Writer
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WEB DESIGN
Each designer will use the press packet and information that was gathered in the press conference to develop a WordPress site. The objective is to communicate the press conference speaker’s organization through appropriate design, navigation and use of provided photos and graphics. The designer may use the provided WordPress templates or customize the template. Each participant will have 90 minutes to complete the practicums.
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Click the button below to gain access to past video projects students produced for the national competition.
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VIDEO PRODUCER
Students will be given a selection of video clips, photos, and music and will create a 60 to 90 second video that promotes the client’s product or service. Students will not be recording a voice track. Participants will have 90 minutes to complete the practicum. Students may be provided a laptop with the editing software of their choice. Students will need to provide their own headphones.
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Click the button below to gain access to past journalistic writing projects that students produced for the national competition.
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JOURNALISTIC WRITERS
Writers will write a journalistic piece based on the press packet and information that was gathered in the press conference. It should be written for an appropriate audience, have a strong focus and lead (opening paragraph) and include a headline. The story will then be word processed by the student on a computer and turned in to be scored. Participants will have 90 minutes to complete the practicum. The activity will rotate annually through the following journalistic pieces:
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Click the button below to gain access to past op-ed writing projects that students produced for the national competition.
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OPINION WRITERS
Writers are to write a piece that takes a position and support it with evidence based on the press packet and information that was gathered in the press conference. It should be written for an appropriate audience, have a strong focus and lead (opening paragraph) and include a headline. The story will then be word processed by the student on a computer and turned in to be scored. Participants will have 90 minutes to complete the practicum. The activity will rotate annually through the following opinion pieces:
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The day of the contest, each team member will participate in a practicum activity and take the quizzes.
QUIZZES (completed individually)
A. Editing Exercise
B. Communications Quiz
A. Editing Exercise
B. Communications Quiz
Practice for the MN State FFA Ag Com CDE
Below you will find access to materials to help prepare your student for the MN State FFA Ag Com CDE.
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2018 STATE PRACTICUMS—MAELC
(This training Module is courtesy of Joe Ramstad)
In 2018, the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) agreed to host the press conference. Below is access to the 2018 practicum materials. This will be a great resource your team can use as you prepare for the state-level CDE. To best utilize this resource, it will be helpful to take notes during the presentation and only allow students 90 minutes to complete their practicums to mimic the environment and structure of the actual CDE.
Special thanks to MAELC for presenting and allowing us to post their presentation and content!
Special thanks to MAELC for presenting and allowing us to post their presentation and content!
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Click the arrow for access to resources
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COMMUNICATION AND EDITING EXAMS
The communications exam and editing exams are each 25 questions in length. Their purpose is to test participants' mastery of the Associated Press Stylebook Guidelines. The best way to prepare for this component of the CDE is to take practice exams and read the Associated Press Stylebook. The communications exam consists of multiple choice questions (options A through D) and the editing exam consists of an article that contains grammar or stylistic errors that need to be corrected using standard editing marks.
Click on the Buttons below to access the 2018 STATE CDE EXAM FILES:
Asset Bins and MN State CDE Practice Exams
Below you will find asset bins of materials to help you students prepare for the MN State FFA Ag Com CDE.
Click on the images below to access these bins. There are no press conferences to accompany these assets.
Click on the Button below to access a library of past CDE EXAM FILES:
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