Oklahoma FFA Leadership Development Events (LDEs): A Guide for Members and Parents

What Are Leadership Development Events in Oklahoma FFA?

In Oklahoma, the FFA contests built around speaking, meeting procedure and communication are run by Oklahoma State University as part of the state's career development event program. Oklahoma's published rules do not use "LDE" as a separate category. The events families usually mean by the term are Prepared Public Speaking, FFA Creed Public Speaking, Junior and Senior Parliamentary Procedure, and Conduct of Chapter Meetings. This guide covers those events. If you are comparing with another state, note that the names and structure differ.

All of them follow the OSU General CDE Guidelines, which apply to every Oklahoma FFA contest of this kind.

Who Can Compete

• Students in grades 8-12 who are regularly enrolled in a yearlong, school-based agricultural education program, supervised by a certified ag ed instructor.
• Seventh graders are not eligible for FFA membership in Oklahoma.
• The chapter must have paid its Affiliate Membership Fees Package, and the student must be in good standing and on the current chapter membership roster.
• A chapter may enter one team per event unless the rules say otherwise, and a member may take part in only one event on the Saturday of State FFA Interscholastics.

The Road to State

The speaking and conduct events describe their levels of competition as Regional, Area and State. For Prepared Public Speaking, two students per division who won an area event advance to state. For Conduct of Chapter Meetings, the top two teams at each area qualifying event advance. The state contest is held at State FFA Interscholastics at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The 2026 State FFA Interscholastics were listed for April 24-25, 2026 on campus. Dates and sites for regional and area contests are not published on the event pages, so ask your chapter advisor.

The Events

Prepared Public Speaking

This is an individual event with nine divisions. Every speech is followed by five minutes of judges' questions. Scoring is 100 points: manuscript 25, speech 50 and questions 25. Going over or under the time limit costs one point per ten seconds.

Speeches must be entirely different for each division a student enters, including facts, quotes and titles. Props are not allowed. Manuscripts are due to the State FFA Office by 5:00 p.m. the day before the state event, with three double-spaced copies, a title page, an APA bibliography and a signed certification sheet. Read the full rules on the Prepared Public Speaking page.

FFA Creed Public Speaking

This individual event is for ninth-grade members, and first-year sophomores are not eligible. Speakers recite the FFA Creed from memory, then answer judges' questions for up to three minutes. Each division allows a maximum of 2 participants. Speakers begin with "The FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany" and use the Creed from the current year's Official FFA Manual. A state division winner cannot compete again in that division. Details are on the FFA Creed Public Speaking page.

Senior Parliamentary Procedure

A team of six students in grades 8-12 completes a written exam, an 11-minute team presentation of parliamentary procedure, and five minutes of oral questions with one question for each member. The event is scored out of 900 points. Teams must bring their own gavel and may not have an electronic device in the event area. Missing official dress costs 50 points. Members may not compete in both Senior and Junior Parliamentary Procedure. See the 2026 Senior rules (PDF).

Conduct of Chapter Meetings

This event introduces 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to parliamentary procedure. A team has seven members: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, sentinel and advisor. The demonstration, including ceremonies, must not exceed 13 minutes, with penalties starting at 13:01. Members of a team that wins first place at state cannot compete in this event again. Details are on the Conduct of Chapter Meetings page.

The general guidelines list Conduct of Chapter Meetings with six members, while the event page lists seven. Check the current year's rules with your advisor before filling out a roster.

Dress Code

Official FFA dress is required in Public Speaking, Senior Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter Meetings. Violations cost points: five points in the speaking events and 50 points in Senior Parliamentary Procedure.

Registration and Fees

Registration for Interscholastics is electronic at JudgingCard.com. The speaking events, Junior and Senior Parliamentary Procedure, and Conduct of Chapter Meetings are listed as qualifying events that do not require pre-registration. For 2026, the OSU registration page listed an open window of March 1 to April 1 for contests that do require it.

Awards

Per the OSU results page, the top three teams receive trophies and the top three individuals receive medals. Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking winners are recognized at an awards ceremony on the Friday before State FFA Convention. The winning team or individual in each national qualifying event represents Oklahoma at the National FFA Convention.

For Parents and Spectators

• Ask the chapter advisor for the regional or area date, since the event pages do not publish them.
• Enter judging rooms only between presentations. Participants may enter the room only for their own presentation.
• Results are unofficial until they become official after the protest deadline, unless a protest is pending.
• Protests must be in writing to the OSU general superintendent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Resources

• OSU General CDE Guidelines: eligibility, dress, conduct and protests
• OSU CDE Registration: windows, fees and JudgingCard steps
• OSU CDE Results and Awards: awards and protest deadlines
• Prepared Public Speaking: divisions and time limits

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