Montana FFA Leadership Development Events

What Leadership Development Events Are

Leadership Development Events, or LDEs, are the speaking, meeting and presentation contests of Montana FFA. The Montana Career and Leadership Development Event Handbook (2022-2027) covers both CDEs and LDEs, and says state contests follow the national guidelines where possible, with local exceptions listed. Winners at state convention can go on to represent Montana at the National FFA Convention.

The Events

The handbook's at-a-glance chart lists these LDEs, along with team size and how many district placings advance:

• Agricultural Issues Forum. Teams of 3-7, with the top half from district advancing.
• Conduct of Chapter Meetings. Seven members, with the top two from district advancing.
• Creed Speaking and Junior Creed Speaking. Individual, top two from district.
• Employment Skills. Individual, top three from district.
• Extemporaneous Speaking. Individual, top two from district.
• Parliamentary Procedure. Six members, top two from district.
• Prepared Speaking. Individual, top two from district.
• Star Greenhand. Individual, with the district winner advancing.

If a qualifier cannot or chooses not to advance, the district representative must be notified seven calendar days before state registration closes, and the next-place competitor or team moves up.

Who Can Compete

• Membership. Active members in good standing with the chapter, state and national associations, in grades 7-12 and enrolled in Agricultural Education.
• Chapter paperwork. If the chapter's roster, Program of Activities, Economic Impact Report or annual report has not reached the state office, all its members are ineligible above the chapter level until it does.
• District certification. One advisor in each district serves as certifying officer and sends the Montana FFA Association a list of eligible teams and individuals before state convention.
• Conduct of Chapter Meetings. Team members must be enrolled in the 7th, 8th or 9th grade.

How Individual Events Work

Creed, Prepared Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, Ag Issues, Marketing Plan and Star Greenhand are judged by ranking. Each judge ranks participants without consultation, the ranks are added and the lowest total wins. Judges are encouraged to use comment cards, so ask your advisor to share the feedback.

Montana changes to the national rules include:

• Extemporaneous Speaking. Participants are not given computers.
• Employment Skills. The top three from district qualify, and there is no pre-qualifier.
• Ag Issues Forum. No semifinal or final rounds unless eight or more teams are present.

Parliamentary Procedure

Montana runs this event differently from the national one. There is no online exam, individual practicum or team problem. All exam questions (five open book and 45 multiple choice) are used to seed teams into presentation rooms. Scoring is exam 200 points, presentation 500 points per round and oral questions 100 points per round, for 800 points per round. The top two teams from each preliminary room advance to a semifinal of eight teams, and the top two from each semifinal room advance to a final of four teams. Judges in the early rounds are chapter advisors or their designees, so bring an adult who can judge.

Conduct of Chapter Meetings

A seven-member team of junior high students fills the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, Sentinel and Advisor. At state convention, the event has opening ceremonies, a team demonstration, closing ceremonies, judges' oral questions and a written test. Teams demonstrate a designated main motion and four additional parliamentary motions chosen by the event superintendent. The handbook asks each qualified team to provide one judge.

Star Greenhand

The Star Greenhand is chosen at the chapter level, then each district sends one contestant to state. Candidates are scored on their supervised agricultural experience, knowledge of agriculture and FFA, leadership potential, scholarship, leadership activities, poise, speaking ability and recitation of the FFA Creed. The record book in PDF form must be emailed to the event's supervising advisor two weeks before the state competition, and a committee of at least three judges picks the winner.

2026-27 Dates

From the Montana Ag-Ed and FFA calendar for 2026-27:

• Fergus LDE Day, January 30, 2027 in Lewistown, a practice opportunity before districts.
• State convention registration opens February 21 and closes March 9 on Judging Card.
• Talent applications due March 5.
• State FFA Convention, March 22-26, 2027 in Great Falls.

District LDE dates are set by each district, so ask your advisor. Dates can change.

Awards

The top 10 individuals and five teams in each state event are announced and given certificates at state convention. The top three teams get plaques and the top three individuals receive gold, silver and bronze pins. State winners of Star Greenhand, Junior Creed, Creed Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking and Prepared Speaking receive a pin and a plaque. All Final Four LDEs are recorded, and the recording is the official video used to resolve disputes. Appeals are open for seven calendar days with a $50 fee, refunded if justified.

Beyond Contests

Montana FFA's leadership development page lists related programs, including the Fusion Career Summit, Alumni Leadership Camp each June in Highwood, the District Leadership Seminar each fall, the Montana Leadership Conference for 150 freshmen and sophomores and the Premier Leadership Conference for 150 juniors and seniors.

Practical Tips

• Ask your advisor which district contest is your qualifier.
• Parliamentary teams should drill the exam as well as the presentation, since test scores decide the room.
• Practice in front of strangers, not only the mirror.
• Watch for the 45-day MAGNET notice of any changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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