NDSU - FFA Agricultural Communication CDE

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NDSU Agriculture Communication is pleased to host the annual North Dakota FFA Agricultural Communication Career Development Event.  The North Dakota event follows most, but not all, of the national Agricultural Communication CDE guidelines. 

 

2023 Media Plan Scenario

Your State FFA Association has approached your chapter’s agricultural communications committee to select and promote one FFA alum/supporter from your state to various media outlets. Your committee has the option to decide what is included in the promotion of this individual. This promotion might consist of one or more of the following:

• A significant, innovative, or unique contribution of the alum/supporter in giving back to FFA or agricultural education programs within the state, their local community, or state-wide initiatives; – A special project, event, or issue/challenge supported by efforts from the alum/supporter within FFA or agricultural education programs within the state;

• A unique service, action, or mentorship the alum/supporter provides to FFA or agricultural education programs within the state;

• Fundraising or scholarship support efforts initiated by the alum/supporter for FFA or agricultural education programs within the state;

• Other attributes associated with the alum/supporter that supports FFA and agricultural education programs, the local community, or state-wide initiatives.

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Please remember that the plan should also focus on promoting agriculture, agricultural education, and the agricultural industry to consumers in your state.

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Tell a Local FFA Story

The focus could include one of the following subjects:

• FFA member

• FFA chapter

• FFA advisor

• State FFA association

• FFA alumni/supporter (2023)

 

Advocate the Industry of Agriculture to Consumers

The focus could include one of the following subjects:

• FFA member

• FFA chapter

• FFA advisor

• State FFA association

• FFA alumni/supporter (2023)

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All media proposals must be emailed in PDF format to Kelli Anderson by 11:59 pm on May 31.

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2023 practicums are as follows:

Web Designer (annual)

Hardware and Software: PCs. Create in WordPress. Must have your own WordPress account before the competition. Graphics and dummy text provided. NDSU computer lab has other software available for developing additional graphics for your WordPress pages.

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Required elements:

• A main page and a page that it links to

• Banner

• Background color

• External link (linking to another site)

• Internal link (linking your two pages together)

• Logo

• Photo(s) and/or graphic(s) with captions

• Email link

• Contact information
   

Web pages will be evaluated on:

• Overall attractiveness

• Technical skills

• Use of design principles

• Neatness and creativity

• Choice and placement of photos and graphics

• Usability and navigation

 

Video Producer (annual)

Hardware and Software: PCs. Use Premiere Elements software in NDSU computer lab.

 

Required elements: 60 to 90 seconds with:

• Title

• At least one video clip

• At least one still photo

• At least one logo or other graphic

• Background music with the audio track

 

Videos will be evaluated on:

• Promotional value

• Tells a story

• Use of provided materials

• Quality of video editing

• Audio editing

• Creativity

• Within time limit

 

Journalistic Writer 

• ​Press release (300-350 words) (2023)

• News story

• Feature story (350-500 words)

 

Hardware and software: PCs. Microsoft Word.
Students will use their notes from the news conference to write a news story, similar to what they might see in AgWeek or Farm and Ranch Guide. Use of internet for sourcing external content is not allowed.

 

Required elements:

• Details about the announcement/event

• A quote from the news conference speaker

• Contact information

 

News stories will be evaluated on:

• Lead/focus

• Accuracy of information and quotes

• Clarity and conciseness

• Correct style (AP)

• Depth of coverage

• Header/headline

• Grammar, spelling, punctuation and word choice

• Organization and format

• Accomplishment of purpose

 

Opinion Writer

• A blog Post (250-300 words)

• An op-ed (500-750 words)

• A letter to the editor (300-500 words) (2023)

 

Hardware and software: PCs. Microsoft Word.
Students will use what they learn at the news conference, their own knowledge of the subject and their opinions to write  an opinion/editorial commentary that might be included on the editorial page of a local newspaper.

 

Required elements:

• An opinion to do or not do something

• A quote from the news conference speaker to back up your opinion

• Contact information

 

Op-eds will be evaluated on:

• Lead/focus

• Accuracy of information and quotes

• Clarity and conciseness

• Correct style (AP)

• Takes a position that is supported with evidence

• Header/headline

• Grammar, spelling, punctuation and word choice

• Organization and format

• Accomplishment of purpose

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To help North Dakota FFA members prepare for this CDE, students may:

• Review the 2019 first-place and tied-for-second-place feature stories A and B and C.

• Review the 2019 first-place, second-place and third-place letter to the editor. 

• Review the 2019 communications quiz.

• Review the 2019 first-place, second-place and third-place web designs. 

• Watch the 2019 first-place, second-place and third-place videos.

• Review the 2019 editing exercise.

• Review the 2019 communications quiz.

• Watch a video of the 2019 mock news conference.

• Review the 2018 first-place and second-place media plans. See the National FFA Ag Communications CDE website for required elements.

• Review the 2018 first-place and second-place news stories.

• Review the 2018 first-place and tied-for-second-place op-ed pieces A and B.

 

For questions about the North Dakota Agricultural Communications career development event, contact Kristin Harner via email or at 701-231-7875.

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