• Summary

- Program designed for young and beginning agricultural leaders who will be asked to complete communication training and an agricultural issue awareness discussion, develop a plan on the issue that provides a positive perspective of agriculture/ renewable resources to an audience of consumers and producers and execute the plan.

- Communication training and skills development occurs at annual winter convention

- Implementation of communication strategy takes place throughout the year and is reported at the annual winter convention

- Two categories are open for participation:

1. Grassroots Participant (open to nominated state participants selected through a process developed mutually by the state association and state sponsor).

2. Leadership Participant (individuals not winning a state contest).

• Goals

- Provide an opportunity for personal and professional growth through the communication of the story of agriculture to state, local and national audiences

- Provide an educational, training program that inspires participation from across the agricultural horizon

- Enhance communication skills of young men and women by encouraging the development an implementation of a plan

- Educate the general public about issues facing agriculture in the nation and world

- Provide a rewarding and fun-filled experience where participants and sponsors can be excited about participation.

• Format

- Pre-Institute:

For state “qualified” winners, known as Grassroots Participants, the association asks the participating state organizations to designate a qualified representative of their entity.

The methodology used to select the state winner will be determined by the state organization. NYFEA encourages each state host their own Ag Communication Award program.

For individuals that are not qualified to participate in the Grassroots Participant category, there will be an opportunity for them to enter the Leadership Participant category.

The eligibility to participate is simple. They must attend the Ag Communication program during the convention.

- Inside the Institute:

During the convention, the winners at the state level will be entered into a separate contest, the Grassroots competition.  They will develop a plan and the plan will be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the goal of communicating positive stories about agriculture. Plans will be compiled.

The best plan, as determined by a series of points, will be recognized during the convention. The plan will be worth 500 points. The winner will be announced on Saturday night during the closing Ag Communication Award banquet.

Each participant will have their plan judged against the plans of their fellow participants. The top plan is eligible for a $500 award.

Also, during the convention, in the Leadership (non-state qualifiers) Participants will be invited to participate in the training program. They will also have an issues discussion and will develop a plan. After the plan is developed they will be asked to explain what they decided to do and how they will execute the plan. Each of the Leadership Participants and will be evaluated and the winners from the Leadership Categories will be selected. The top plan will be offered a $500 award. They will also be presented at the closing banquet of the convention.

- After the Institute:

At the close of the convention, the plans that have been developed will be certified for entry into Phase II of the program. By carrying out the details of the plan, the participants have the opportunity to earn another prize. All of the completed plans must be submitted to NYFEA by September 1 of the upcoming year. The documentation showing that the plans have been completed will be reviewed and the winner will be selected from the group that is submitted.

“Grassroots Participants” and “Leadership Participants” will be bunched together for the final part of the program. In other words, they will compete against each other for the final prize which is $1,000. Also, the winner receives free room and registration. Winners will be notified before the start of the convention. The winner of the implementation part of the program will be asked to present their successful activity during the Communication Award banquet during the convention. 

• Rules

- Any participant arriving on the day of the national program may enter.

- Selection of the National Agricultural Communication Awards will be made by a panel of judges consisting of a consumer leader, an agricultural communicator and an agricultural representative; all judges will be secured prior to Institute activities.

- Candidates’ presentations will be provided to the judges by NYFEA and judges will evaluate each presentation. Presentations will consist of documentation of successful communication activities. Grade for each participant will be determined based of effective execution of written and spoken components of the plan.

- A winner and runner-up will be selected. The winners for each category will receive prizes. Winners must be present to receive award.