State Officer Candidates

State Officer Selection Process

An objective scoring process will be used, based on a summative rubric that is broken into the following categories:

Depth of Experiences in FFA Programs and Leadership - 25%

  • Determined by point systems

  • The chair of the nominating committee, the Superintendent(s) and the Executive Director will calculate these scores together.

General Knowledge of FFA History & Traditions - 25%

  • Determined by results of a 25 (or 50) question test

  • Questions to be taken from the pool of approved questions assembled

Written Communication - 20%

  • Determined by a writing prompt given to candidates at the first meeting of candidates prior to Convention, and scored anonymously by an English teacher using a rubric shared in advance.


Verbal Communication & Ability to Present - 30%

  • Determined by interviews conducted by the members of the nominating committee.

  • Committee members scores will be submitted by ballot

  • Ballots will be tallied by the Nominating Committee Superintendent(s) and the scores discussed without the candidates’ names attached.

  • The committee will choose in advance the number of activities and their point values (e.g. 5 activities at 6 points each or 4 at 5 points and 1 at 10 points, etc.)

  • Suggested activities include one-on-one interviews, small group activities, role-playing activities, stand and deliver, stakeholder interview, etc. Each will be scored on a rubric. All scoring will be done privately prior to discussion of the candidate’s performance.

Depth of Experience Point System

Applicants may only use TWO years of membership when compiling points for the following:

  • 2 points for each year of State Office held


  • 1 point for each Chapter Office held (max 2)


  • 1 point for each year of membership in the FFA (max 2)


  • 1 point for participation in each LDE completed on the State Level (NOT CDEs)

    • Parliamentary Procedure, Creed Division 1 ONLY, Extemp, Prepared, Ag Issues, Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Employment Skills


  • 1 point for each national level LDE or CDE event, if they compete at National Convention


  • 1 point for a member who wins Gold at Nationals


  • 1 point for each Application submitted on the State Level

    • Greenhand, SAE, State Degree


  • 1 point for each Advanced Application submitted on the State Level, but no more than one point in any given year.

    • Proficiency Awards, State Star


  • 1 point for each state-level leadership training attended as a regular member

    • Includes only COLT, FLE and Winter Leadership Camp

    • Those having previously held state office can not count those leadership events at which their attendance was required.


  • Additionally, a candidate may score up to 3 points if he/she has participated in the following:

    • Lived or worked on a farm or other agricultural business for one or more years - 1 point

    • Held office in another organization such as 4H, Scouts, Student Council, etc. - 1 point

    • Has GPA of 3.3 - 4.0 - 1 point

State Office Summative Rubric

ONLY applicants scoring in the ‘exceptional’ category in Depth of Experience can be considered for President or Vice President.

If, in the (unlikely) event that no candidate scores in the ‘exceptional’ category, only the two top-scoring individuals can be considered for the two highest positions.