What FFA Leadership Development Events Are
Leadership Development Events (LDEs) test the speaking, meeting, sales and communication skills FFA members use outside the barn. South Dakota holds them in the fall. According to the Brookings Register, nearly 600 FFA members met in Box Elder on December 1 to 2, 2024 for the State LDEs. The SD FFA LDE page lists the 2026 State Leadership event as December 6 to 7, 2026, at The Box in Box Elder.
The Events
The General Rules and Regulations (revised September 2026) list these LDEs and their team makeup:
- Agriculture Broadcasting. Individual. Students have 30 minutes to prepare a five-minute agricultural radio newscast and then air it.
- Agriculture Communications. Four team members. A team of communication consultants develops a written media plan and presents it to judges, and members also complete practicums, a quiz and an editing exercise.
- Agriculture Issues Forum. Three to seven team members discussing the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue.
- Agriculture Sales. Four team members. Teams develop a strategy for selling pre-determined products, and members also practice individual selling.
- Conduct of Chapter Meetings. Seven team members, designed for high school freshmen to present a mock FFA meeting. It was previously known as Junior Parliamentary Procedure.
- Creed Speaking. Individual. Members recite the FFA Creed and answer judges' questions.
- Employment Skills. Individual. A job application, letter of application and resume, an interview and a follow-up letter.
- Extemporaneous Speaking. Individual. Contestants get 30 minutes to prepare an unrehearsed speech.
- Marketing Plan. Three members build a strategy for a new agricultural product or company that fills a local need.
- Parliamentary Procedure. Six members demonstrate an FFA business meeting.
- Prepared Public Speaking. Individual. A speech on an agriculture topic, followed by questions from the judges.
Rules, score sheets and contest materials for each event are posted on the SD FFA LDE page.
Who Can Compete
- Teams and individuals from accredited AFNR (Ag, Food and Natural Resources) education programs in South Dakota high schools qualify at the district level.
- Participants must be bona fide enrollees in a secondary AFNR program and FFA members in good standing.
- They must have passing grades in at least three units of schoolwork.
- An individual or team may enter more than one LDE if eligible, prepared and the schedule permits.
- Members may compete in a State Fall LDE while active in school, until they are on a first-place state team or have taken part in the National LDE for that area.
How Students Qualify
Each school may enter no more than one team and two individuals in its district competition. The top two teams and top three individuals from each district qualify. South Dakota has eight FFA districts, so that is the pool of students arriving at the state event. The Brookings Register notes that in 2024 the awards session recognized members in 11 leadership areas, and state winners in 10 of the 11 advanced to the National FFA LDEs in Indianapolis the following year.
Scoring and Judging
The State FFA Association finds qualified chairs for each LDE, and chairs find their own judges. The rules say scoring will be electronic, with feedback for members, either through a Google Sheet, judging card or other electronic format, and state staff will announce the format to all districts before registration. Ties for the top five teams and the top ten individuals are broken using the criteria listed under each event. Corrections to announced results can be made if a grievance is filed within seven calendar days after the announcement.
Going to Nationals
The high-scoring team in each LDE, apart from Ag Broadcasting, represents South Dakota in national competition. The winning team must have at least one original team member who competed in the state LDE; otherwise the second-place team goes. To compete nationally, participants must be bona fide FFA members.
Audience, Dress and Accommodations
- Who can watch. The rules limit who may enter each room. For Agriculture Communications, Issues Forum, the team portion of Ag Sales, Extemporaneous, Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Marketing Plan, Parliamentary Procedure finals and Prepared Public Speaking, the room is open to the chapter advisor, team members and stakeholders the advisor approves. Parliamentary Procedure preliminary rounds, Ag Broadcasting, Creed Speaking and Employment Skills are open only to the advisor and approved stakeholders. The advisor must tell the door monitor who is allowed in.
- Finals Hall. Open to all. FFA members must wear official dress to attend.
- Official dress. Highly recommended for LDEs, with no point deductions. Agriculture Issues teams may wear an outfit that fits their presentation.
- Video. No videotaping of any LDE at the state level.
- Accommodations. Families request them through a Google Form. A student who needs a test read aloud must have an adult reader supplied by the school, who cannot be the advisor or a parent.
Preparation Dates
The rules say the state releases some materials by September 15: employability job descriptions, Ag Sales product information and Ag Communications press release or conference material. Districts that want other materials from the state must say so by September 1.
Practical Tips
- Check the event's rules page for time limits and score sheets before practice starts.
- Ask your advisor about the district date and your chapter's entries.
- Tell your advisor early if you need an accommodation.
- Write down your guest list for the advisor before the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the state LDEs?
The SD FFA site lists December 6 to 7, 2026, at The Box in Box Elder.
How many students can a school send to districts?
One team and two individuals per event.
How many advance from each district?
The top two teams and top three individuals.
Are LDEs the same as CDEs?
No. CDEs are the spring career skills contests held at the State Convention.
South Dakota Listings Covered by This Guide
- South Dakota State FFA Leadership Development Events
Held each year; the most recent dates were Dec. 7-8, 2025. Over 600 FFA members from eight districts competed in leadership contests and met industry leaders at a Career Expo in Box Elder.
Box Elder, SD | Organizer: South Dakota FFA Official event details
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.