Date:March 3, 2016

To:FFA Chapter Advisors

From:Christy Davis, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation

Re:FFA Discussion Meet to be held at SLC in June

The Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Committee of the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation will be hosting the 12th Annual FFA Discussion Meet during the State FFA Leadership Conference. This event is an excellent platform for leadership development, and the experience is invaluable. In addition, the participants will be exposed to the Young Farmer & Rancher program of the Farm Bureau, and hopefully find it to be an avenue of advancement after they leave high school and FFA.

The attached information packet explains the competition, the six questions that your students will need to prepare for, and the scoring used by the judges. Note that your students should be prepared for all four questions. This information is available on the Arizona Farm Bureau YF&R website at – Programs, or the Arizona FFA website – Downloads. The winner of the event will win a $250 VISA gift card from the Young Farmers & Ranchers of the Arizona Farm Bureau!

For registration information, or any other questions, please contact me, Christy Davis, at (480) 635-3615 or . We would ask that you register your participants by Friday, May 13th at the very latest. Applications received after 5 p.m. will not be accepted.

We look forward to your students’ participation in this great event!

Sincerely,

Christy Davis

Arizona Farm Bureau Federation

(480) 635-3615


The Discussion Meet is a contest promoted by Arizona Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher Committee and the Arizona FFA organization.

The contest itself involves a moderator and from 4 to 6 contestants in each round. The moderator’s responsibility is to introduce the topic and the contestants and start the discussion. The contestants discuss a pre-selected topic.

The fundamental bases of general discussion are constructive criticism, cooperation, communication and problem solving. With this in mind, the 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 thinker 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.

Finally, this is not a panel symposium wherein each participant, in turn, makes a presentation with the moderator ending the session with a summary. Rather, it is an exercise in cooperative problem solving with questions, answers, and statements coming from any quarter at any time.

Purpose of the Discussion Meet

The strength of the FFA Organization and the Arizona Farm Bureau is its ability to involve members in analyzing agricultural problems and deciding on solutions that best meet their needs. Experience has proven that the Discussion Meet will provide an opportunity for greater participation on the part of young, active farmers and ranchers and students. It will help them to develop a greater command of basic discussion skills. They will acquire a better understanding of how people can think in a group for the sake of better understanding and solutions to problems.

As a leadership training and self-improvement device, the Discussion Meet experience will:

  1. Stimulate logical thinking and a desire for accurate information
  2. Develop a concise and convenient manner of speaking
  3. Develop the ability to listen
  4. Help the participants to overcome timidity or stage fright
  5. Assist the individual in learning to give and receive criticism in a gainful manner
  6. Teach the value of compromise
  7. Develop leaders for effective problem solving through group discussion

I. Content of the Discussion Meet

Generally speaking, the discussion should follow these steps:

  1. State problem or need
  2. Explore, define, understand problem or need
  3. Identify causes of problem or need
  4. Elaborate all possible alternate solutions
  5. Evaluate and compare alternatives
  6. Test and project what appears to be the best solution
  7. Arrive at ways to implement the solution

II. Eligibility

  1. Any FFA member having current dues paid may participate in this contest
  2. The Discussion Meet event will follow the general rules and policies for all State FFA Career Development Events.

III. DISCUSSION TOPICS

Topics are created each year based on issues identified in the agriculture industry. One topic will be selected for each round of discussion. The following topics will be used in the 2016 FFA Discussion Meet competition:

  1. How is agricultural education relevant in today’s society?
  2. With less than 2% of the population in production agriculture, should it still be taught?
  3. How do students use this education beyond the classroom?
  4. Why do students need to know about agriculture?
  5. Should the curriculum in an urban program differ from a rural program?
  6. FFA experience/Raising livestock
  7. Agricultural Literacy vs Actual Ag Skills
  1. Have food labeling requirements and regulations made for a better-educated consumer and a healthier society?
  2. Consumer understanding
  3. Regulations - Benefits to consumers
  4. Public's perception of food products
  5. Role in food safety and consumer health benefits
  1. While presented and adopted in 1930, and subsequently revised, does the FFA Creed continue to have relevance for today’s FFA member(s)?
  2. Discuss the five areas of the creed
  3. Discuss today’s application for each.
  4. If you could make one change in the creed, what would that change be and why would you make that change?
  1. How will State budget cuts to vocational education affect agriculture education?
  2. Can Agricultural Education maintain its current professional status with fewer people and resources?
  3. How will FFA be directly affected?
  4. What is the importance of continually being aware and involved in legislative affairs?
  5. How can you use your influence and share your FFA experience to affect opinions and outcomes of legislators and their votes?
  1. How can we convince the public that the animal agriculture industry balances production efficiencies with the public’s expectations of animal care?
  2. Perception of corporate/family farming and animal agriculture
  3. Animal Welfare
  4. Education from producer to consumer
  5. Needs of customers – feeding a growing population
  6. Social impact when public is misinformed or mislead about animal agriculture
  1. What role, if any, should organizations like the FFA, Farm Bureau, and other Ag. commodity organizations play in addressing health and obesity issues?
  2. Adolescent obesity and school health
  3. Obesity’s impact on health
  4. What outreach and educational programs are or should be available
  5. The role of exercise
  6. Food – the good and the bad aspects

IV. Order of Contest

  1. All contest officials must be in the proper contest room 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the contest
  2. No contestant notes are allowed at the table prior to the moderator starting the Meet
  3. Students may begin writing notes as soon as all contestants are seated.
  4. The moderator will call the meeting to order, announce the topic to be discussed, and then introduce the timekeeper.
  5. The moderator will introduce the contestants and re-announce the topic to be discussed. He will call on the contestants in voluntary order to make a 30 second opening statement
  6. The timekeeper will indicate when 30 seconds has elapsed. Judges will subtract points at their discretion for abusing the time limit.
  7. The moderator will indicate the opportunity for open discussion that will run for a total of 15 minutes. The moderator may, should discussion subside, give “directed discussion” by encouraging contestants to consider other aspects of the topic under consideration.
  8. The timekeepers will indicate to the moderator when 5 minutes of open discussion time remain. The moderator will indicate to contestants the time remaining by raising a table tent. He will assure each contestant has seen it before removing it. If discussion lags the moderator may close discussion at this time
  9. The timekeeper will indicate to the moderator when 15 minutes have elapsed
  10. The moderator will stop discussion and call for one minute of quiet time to allow the contestants to consider a closing statement
  11. The moderator will call upon the contestants in voluntary order to make a one-minute closing statement.

V. Event Procedures

The following steps are recommended when practice discussion meets are considered:

1.Notify all prospective contestants that a Discussion Meet will be conducted and where and when it will be held.

2.Decide on the procedure to be followed. It is recommended that there be an elimination contest involving 2 to 3 panels of 4 to 6 contestants each. From each of these panels, 2 contestants may be chosen to compete in the finals, which would then consist of 4 to 6 contestants.

3.Principals of the Contest:

Moderator-Assures the room is set up, explains to the audience the working of the contest, restarts the discussion if it lags, and assists the time keeper and judges

Timekeeper-Alerts the moderator when time segments of the contest have been reached.

Judges-Determine rank of contestants

Contestants-FFA members

The following procedures are recommended for the contest:

  1. Contestants, moderators, and judges should meet 30 minutes before the contest for instruction and discussion panel assignments
  2. Follow the instructions; each panel should meet briefly (5 minutes) with their contest principals for the purpose of getting acquainted and having last minute questions answered .
  3. The physical arrangements of the Discussion Meet rooms should provide for two tables at the front of the room facing each other and the audience. One-half of the participants should be seated at each table with the moderator in the center. (See illustration below). Place name cards identifying contestants so that the contestants, moderator and the audience can see them.

ContestantsContestants

XX

XX

XX

XJXXXXXXXXXX Timekeeper Moderator XXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXJXXXXX

XXXXXXXXJXXX Audience XXXXXXXXXXX

5.Hints for Contestants:

  1. Study as much material as possible on the overall topics. Sources: library, newspapers, magazines, Farm Bureau website and policies, county, state, and agriculture publications and conversations with those having knowledge of the subject.
  2. The Discussion Meet should be a conflict of ideas, but not of personalities. Remember, THIS IS A DISCUSSION, NOT A DEBATE.
  3. Be prepared to ask questions, state facts and opinions, and urge others to be specific.
  4. Be aware of the audience, but generally address the panel. Talk loud enough to be heard by all of the audience.
  5. Participate whenever it will contribute to furthering discussion without monopolizing.
  6. Make note of key points as the discussion proceeds for use in summary statement.
  7. Use one minute time to organize your summary statement.
  8. Stand and make your closing statement to the audience – use accepted speech techniques – stay within time limits.

VI. Explanation of Scoring

FFA Discussion Meet Rules.docx

Last Updated 3/8/10

  1. The winner will be determined by judges’ ranking and ties will be resolved before the judges are dismissed. (See attached scoring sheet.)
  2. In the event of an irresolvable tie, total points from judges’ score sheets will be used to resolve the tie.

FFA Discussion Meet Rules.docx

Last Updated 3/8/10

VII. Awards

The winner will receive one $250 Visa Gift Card from the Arizona Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.

FFA Discussion Meet Rules.docx

Last Updated 3/8/10

Discussion Meet Rating Sheet

Participants' NamesParticipants' Names

(Left of Moderator) (Right of Moderator)

Superior - 100
Round:______Excellent - 80
Good - 60
Question:______Fair - 40
Total of 700 points possible.Poor - 20
/ (1)COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE: (200 Total Points)
A.Listening, asking pertinent questions, airing all points of view, securing major agreement, minimizing major differences. (100 points)
B.Courtesy to other participants, encourage discussion from other participants. (100 points)
(2)PROBLEM SOLVING AND IMPLEMENTATION: (100 points)
Ability and judgment in seeking answers and solutions, planning and organizational
understanding, including FFA in implementing action programs.
(3)DELIVERY: (100 points)
Voice quality, loudness, clear enunciation, communication skills, desirable sentence
structure and interesting choice of words.
(4)ANALYSIS OF TOPIC OR PROBLEM: (100 points)
Does Competitor attempt to identify problem causes and remain on topic?
Knowledge, extent and accuracy of facts.
(5)OPENING STATEMENT: (100 points)
Definition of problem, importance, causes, effects, relevancy of problem.
(6)CLOSING STATEMENT: (100 points)
Ability to summarize discussion and formulate direction for the future.
Total score for each Competitor is to be tabulated by Judge.
TOTALAny tie scores are to be broken by Judge.TOTAL
RANKRank Competitors: 1(highest) – 6(lowest)RANK

SIGNED: SIGNED:

(Room Chairman)(Judge)

FFA Discussion Meet Rules.docx

Last Updated 3/8/10