New Teacher Survivor Series

Part #10 - FFA Pitfalls (Proficiency, Star awards, Banquet and CDEs)

Proficiency and Star selection

1.      This too can be a wolf in sheep's clothing.  Competition and recognition are always a source of conflict.  So, use some of the same common sense methods of selection that were discussed in the selection of chapter officers.

ü      Develop an application process with due dates, appearance criteria, etc.

ü      Use the State and National FFA applications or make one of your own.  Make sure, if you develop the application, that it follows the structure of the State and National applications.  It will give you credibility.

ü      Communicate the process to the students before hand and have the instructions and process detailed on the application or in a handout.

ü      Judging should be done by an impartial panel.  Don't convene the panel.  Take the applications to them with a score sheet and have them judge the applications individually.  Two to three judges should judge each area.  The same judges might judge all areas; but, each application should be seen by more than one judge.

ü      You can also judge the applications.  In fact, you should judge them.  Who knows the students better?   However, don't make your vote more important than the others.

2.      Stars can be done the same way.  Make sure your applications have a check mark for those wishing to be considered for any of the Star awards.

3.      The stars can also be done through a combination of application and interview.  You should be on the interview panel.

FFA Banquet

1.      The FFA Banquet should be considered a time for celebration.  This activity should be planned and organized to show the community supporters, parents, and administrators the accomplishments made that school year.

2.      The banquet should also be a time to recognize the students for their hard work.

3.      Use the banquet to build support for your program.  The students will make you look good if you will prepare them ahead of time.

4.      The banquet should be by invitation only.  The people you invite should be honored to get an invitation.  Invite the teaching staff and their spouses, members and parents, administration and their spouses, community business leaders and supporters, and local legislators.

5.      Send the invitations out about six weeks ahead of the scheduled date.  Of course you put the date on the school calendar at the beginning of the year.  The Chapter Secretary should organize a committee to assist with addressing envelopes.

6.      You and the officers should plan the banquet along with the chapter banquet committee.  If the officers are the only ones involved the members will not take ownership in the banquet.

7.      Planning should include:

ü      Agenda (see FFA Manual for structure)

ü      Speakers (Does not have to be a key noter.  It could be your district qualifying speech or creed contestant or both).  It has been my experience that they will like your speakers better anyway.  The more of your students that are involved, the more your banquet will be successful.

ü      You might have a State FFA Officer at your banquet for a short speech and to help with presentations and be in pictures.

ü      The banquet committee should be divided into decorations, food and dinner items, music/entertainment, clean up, and program/script.  The officers should plan their entrance and have input into the agenda.

ü      Ask an administrator to assist the State Officer in presenting awards to proficiency winners.  You can announce while they congratulate.  Make sure your reporter is taking pictures of each presentation.

ü      It is always a good idea to have a short description of the students' SAE when presenting the awards.

ü      Use the State FFA Convention as a model for some of the banquet activities.

8.      Rehearse the entire banquet at least 2 days before and again the night before.

9.      Make sure the banquet is no longer than 2 hours from start to finish.  That includes dinner.

10.   Have a picture back drop area designated for pictures to be taken before the banquet begins and after it has concluded.  The pictures before will be important to legislators or people who must leave early.

11.   Invite the local newspaper reporter.  This will allow them to work and enjoy the program at the same time.  They are a guest and not just there to report.

12.   Have a courtesy Corp to greet, direct, and seat the guests.  Also utilize the courtesy Corp for equipment set up and operation. (projectors, computers, spotlights, etc.)

13.   Have the secretary, president, or designated officer to introduce guests outside the community after opening ceremony.  Be careful about introducing all guests by name.  You will forget someone, trust me and you do not want to do that.  Introduce groups and have them stand.  This way you can have a list before the banquet. (Teachers, members, maintenance, support staff, etc.)

14.   If you have a legislator attend, place him/her at the beginning of the program for a short time to make comments. 

15.   The clean up should begin shortly after the banquet is adjourned.  You should make sure to thank the necessary guests for attending.  Have your new and old officers do the same.  Don't stand in a line, circulate in pairs.

16.   Send thank you notes to appropriate guests who attended.

CDEs and Other Contests

1.      FFA Career Development Events are the dangling carrot to most FFA members.  This is where they can achieve success and rewards.  In areas other than livestock shows.

2.      Do not have too many CDE teams at one time.  You will not be able to do any of them justice.  Begin with one or two teams and grow with tradition and success.

3.      Do not train your team in class.  Teach the class the skills necessary to be successful in the CDEs.  For example, to be successful in the Forestry contest a student must learn the science of identification, math in calculating saw logs, geography in the compass activity.  By teaching all of the students these skills you have done your job and prepared them to participate in the Forestry CDE.

4.      Do not take students to CDEs if they are not ready for the event.  In other words, don't just go to go.  Be prepared or do not attend.

5.      Problems will occur if you take students to CDEs that are not interested and only a 4^th body.

6.      Workouts for CDE events should be scheduled and not on an as needed basis.

7.      Workouts can be before or after school.  You will find that these will get better attendance than evening activities.

8.      Communicate what you expect from your teams ahead of time.  Let them know how you expect them to look, dress, act, etc.

9.      If you have more students wanting to be involved in a CDE than the contest allows, be sure to have a ranking system in place.  It could be a local contest, a culmination of previous contests, workouts, etc.

10.   Make sure you have documentation of results, points, etc. (concrete evidence) why certain students are on the team if you have more than the allowable number wanting to participate.  This will save you a headache.

11.   Display all awards won in a prominent place in the Ag building and/or school trophy case.  Be proud or their accomplishments.

12.   Report to the newspaper attendance at events and/or awards won.

CDEs are the fun activities.  This is where you see what you have taught being put into action.  Do not hide the fact that you teach students to put theory into practice.  In fact boast about it.

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