What Leadership Development Events Are
FFA leadership development events (LDEs) test speaking, teamwork and meeting skills rather than plant or animal knowledge. National FFA groups them with career events for members in grades 7 to 12 and runs them at the local, state and national levels, per its events page. That page's event list appears to place Creed Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter Meetings on the leadership side. Hawaii sources are looser: the Oahu District event that used the label career development event also included Prepared Public Speaking, FFA Creed and Parliamentary Procedure. So if your advisor calls a speaking contest a CDE, that is normal in Hawaii.
Leadership-Style Events in Hawaii
The Hawaii Department of Education's 2026 FFA winners list includes these leadership-style events (Employment Skills is also on the list):
- Junior Creed Recitation
- Senior Creed Recitation
- Extemporaneous Public Speaking
- Prepared Public Speaking
- Parliamentary Procedure
The Kalani High FFA page lists FFA Creed Recitation, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking and Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration among Hawaii State FFA events, along with Job Interview.
Event Basics
Creed recitation
Members recite the FFA Creed. The 2026 list separates Junior and Senior divisions. At the earlier state convention reported by the Trojan Times, a McKinley High student took first place in Creed Recitation.
Public speaking
Prepared Public Speaking and Extemporaneous Public Speaking are both listed. In the prepared event you write and rehearse a speech ahead of time; in the extemporaneous event you speak on a topic with limited preparation. Ask your advisor for the topic list and time limits in the current handbook.
Parliamentary procedure
Hawaii lists this as Parliamentary Procedure or Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration. Teams show correct meeting procedure. National FFA says its Parliamentary Procedure event has a virtual component, held in early October in that year's schedule.
Where to Compete
- District: On December 14, 2024, the Oahu District event at Kahala Elementary School drew 148 students, with contests including Prepared Public Speaking, FFA Creed and Parliamentary Procedure, per CTAHR.
- State: The 2026 state conference was held at Konawaena High School on Hawaii Island, per the Department of Education. The 2023 convention on Oahu drew more than 250 members and included a public speaking contest, per Hawaii Public Radio.
- National: Events run at the national level too. Check national FFA for current deadlines and eligibility.
Learning to Lead: Officers and Workshops
The state officer team travels. In September 2025 the Hawaii FFA state officers visited chapters in all four counties, Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu, on Saturdays, as described by National FFA. The workshops taught public speaking, how to plan a Program of Activities, and what competitions and opportunities FFA offers. Officers said they hoped to boost participation and improve the member experience.
If you want to run for office, the earlier convention report notes a McKinley student who won the Prepared Speaking contest and was elected state treasurer. Speaking practice and officer service often go hand in hand.
Why Leadership Events Matter
A Kohala High student featured by the Department of Education, who has competed in the national FFA competition twice, described FFA as primarily a tool to help students learn leadership skills, and credited it with improving her speaking and her ability to connect with people from many different backgrounds. The Kalani High FFA page gives the motto "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve" and says Hawaii State FFA offers competitions and volunteering.
In practical terms, a leadership contest gives you a stage, a clock and a judge, which is the same setup as a scholarship interview or a county hearing. Students who start with the Creed often move up to prepared speaking and then to team events like parliamentary procedure.
How the Calendar Works
National FFA says declaration and certification for its events open in March, and that each event has a handbook and preparation resources such as past tests and videos. Parliamentary Procedure has a virtual component in early October, and Employment Skills has one in mid-September in that year's schedule. Hawaii's own state and district timelines are not published in the sources found, so rely on your advisor for local dates. Because Hawaii district contests have been held as early as December and the state conference in the late winter or spring, start practicing in the fall.
Practical Tips
- Memorize the Creed early; it is the easiest first event.
- Record yourself speaking and watch it with your advisor.
- For parliamentary procedure, practice as a full team, not just in pieces.
- Ask your advisor which events your district holds and when.
- Talk to your chapter officers about the state officer workshops in your county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is creed recitation a leadership event?
National FFA appears to list Creed Speaking with leadership events, though Hawaii sources call it a CDE.
Do I have to be an officer to compete?
The sources do not require it; the contests are listed for FFA members. Confirm with your advisor.
Where can I practice?
Start in your chapter, then try a district event like Oahu's December contest day.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.