2023 HARVEST FESTIVAL PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST RULES
1. Entry Fee: $20 per contestant. Entries must be made on an official Prepared Public Speaking Entry form and signed by the AST/CEA overseeing the contestant and his/her speech.
2. Eligible Entries: Speeches must be the work of eligible exhibitors – limited to students eligible to participate in the Harvest Festival Livestock Show. Speeches must directly relate to a current agriculture issue. Only one speech will be accepted per contestant. 9th grade competitors are eligible to compete in the senior division if they desire. Contest participants should wear FFA Official Dress or business attire.
3. Junior Speech Rules: (Grades 3rd – 6th)
a. The junior division speeches must be between 3 – 6 minutes.
b. The contest will consist of the speech delivery and a 3 minute question period.
c. Two copies of the speech manuscript must be turned in at check-in.
d. The written speech must reflect the original work of the contestant.
e. The written speech will not be scored, but will be used to develop questions
f. Speeches must relate to a current agriculture topic.
4. Intermediate Speech Rules: (Grades 7th – 9th)
a. The intermediate division speeches must be between 5 – 7 minutes.
b. The contest will consist of the speech delivery and a 5 minute question period.
c. Two copies of the speech manuscript must be turned in at check-in.
d. The written speech must reflect the original work of the contestant.
e. The written speech will not be scored, but will be used to develop questions.
f. Speeches must relate to a current agriculture topic.
g. There will be no speech topic divisions for the intermediate contest
5. Senior Speech Rules: (Grades 10th – 12th)
a. The senior division speeches must be between 6 – 8 minutes.
b. The contest will consist of the speech delivery and a 5 minute question period.
c. Two copies of the speech manuscript must be turned in at check-in.
d. The written speech must reflect the original work of the contestant.
e. The written speech will not be scored, but will be used to develop questions.
f. Speeches must relate to a current agriculture topic.
g. There will be no speech topic divisions for the senior contest
6. Judging: All contestants will be judged and scored using the Prepared Public Speaking Rubric attached below. Score sheets will be given back to the contestants at the conclusion of the contest.
7. Awards: Contest placings will be announced at the conclusion of each division. The Champion and Reserve Champion of all divisions will be recognized and receive awards.
8. Example categories/topics:
a. Animal Science: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with any aspect of the industries of dairy, equine, poultry, sheep, swine, beef, specialty animals, embryo transfer, etc.
b. Plant Science: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with any aspect of horticulture and/or agronomy industries. This may include such areas as floriculture, fruit and or/vegetable production, nursery operations, turf and landscape management, crop production, specialty crop production, etc.
c. Natural Resources: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as soil, water, air, rural water, wildlife, forestry, aquaculture, conservation, recreation, recycling, energy, environmental issues, etc.
d. Agribusiness: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as cooperatives, sales, service, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, commodities, futures, hedging, advertising, online marketing program, etc.
e. Agricultural Policy: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as domestic farm issues, international trade, rural economic development, politics, animal rights, law, subsidies, price supports, etc.
f. Agriculture Technology and Communications: Participants may choose any current or future subject that deals with topics such as biotechnology, biogenetics, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, farm safety, use of technology, research, laser, satellites, computers, journalism, communications, social media, public relations, etc.
