Minnesota FFA Leadership Development Events

How Minnesota FFA Leadership Development Events Work

Leadership development events (LDEs) test speaking, meeting skills and teamwork rather than technical agriculture. Minnesota has more than 220 chapters, per the University of Minnesota's 2026 convention recap. Rules and schedules change, so your chapter advisor and Minnesota FFA materials come first. This guide is built from published school, news and state pages.

The Event List

A chapter-site list from Forest Lake FFA names seven Minnesota LDEs:

• Agricultural Issues
• Conduct of Chapter Meetings
• Creed Speaking
• Employment Skills
• Extemporaneous Speaking
• Parliamentary Procedure
• Prepared Public Speaking

The page also lists state invitational events that are not LDEs: Best Informed Greenhand, the Farm Bureau Discussion Meet and Talent.

How Many Events You Can Enter

Per the same page, members may compete in only one team LDE, one individual LDE, one team CDE and any invitational CDEs at the Minnesota Convention.

The State Leadership Conference

Minnesota separated its LDEs from the career events. Because the State Fair was remodeling its coliseum and replacing the roof, the LDEs moved to St. Cloud State University, per the Red River Farm Network. The first conference ran December 9 and 10, 2024, with events including parliamentary procedure, extemporaneous speaking, public speaking and creed speaking, plus workshops. A follow-up report said over 600 FFA members took part and that the conference would return to St. Cloud in 2025, with no commitments beyond that, per Red River Farm Network. Check with your advisor for current dates and location.

The Farm Bureau Discussion Meet

The Minnesota Farm Bureau State FFA Discussion Meet is held during the leadership conference. Sixteen regional finalists competed December 10, 2024, with up to two participants from each region, per Minnesota Farm Bureau. The meet was held at the Atwood Memorial Center on the St. Cloud State campus and sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. It simulates a committee meeting with the goal of finding a solution, and the top two winners receive a scholarship to the FFA Washington Leadership Conference or toward further education.

Practice and Convention

The 35th Annual UMN Invitational on October 7, 2026 is a combined event with both CDEs and LDEs, per the U of M Ag Ed events page. The State FFA Convention is held every April on the U of M Twin Cities campuses and the State Fairgrounds, with 2027 set for April 18 to 20.

Minnesota FFA at a Glance

A state FFA fact sheet given to the Minnesota Senate agriculture committee reported 15,155 student members and 222 chapters in 2024, with 92.3 percent in rural or town settings. The university's recap put the 2026 State Convention at 5,280 registered members and supporters, with a new state officer team installed there. LDE competitors are part of that crowd, so expect a busy, noisy and very well-dressed event.

Why Compete in an LDE

The leadership conference was described by state officer Cole Sundeen as "a new and exciting opportunity for students to get more hands-on learning about leadership," per the Red River Farm Network. Because the conference also offered workshops alongside the contests, even students who do not advance gain practice speaking, running a meeting and thinking on their feet. The Discussion Meet adds a scholarship incentive for its top two finishers.

Student speakers should also remember that Minnesota keeps the invitational events (Best Informed Greenhand, Farm Bureau Discussion Meet and Talent) separate from the LDE list, so ask your advisor how each one counts toward your entry limits.

How to Choose an Event

• Like speaking alone: Prepared Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking or Creed Speaking.
• Like debate and teams: Parliamentary Procedure or Conduct of Chapter Meetings.
• Like current issues: Agricultural Issues or the Farm Bureau Discussion Meet.
• Career-minded: Employment Skills.

Preparing

• Start with your advisor and ask which LDEs your chapter fields.
• Rehearse in front of other people. Timing and questions are where most teams lose points.
• Use the October invitational as a trial run.
• Know your region. The Discussion Meet draws up to two finalists from each of Regions 1 through 8.

Practical Tips

• Pick events early so you and your team can practice before the October invitational.
• Remember the entry limits: one team LDE, one individual LDE and one team CDE.
• Check whether your chapter needs a registration form or travel approval for an off-campus conference.
• Watch for changes. The leadership conference format and site moved once already, so do not assume last year's plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.