PURPOSE

The promotion of New Jersey Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and FFA is essential to future membership and continued support of agricultural education programs. The Hall of States Exhibit Event shall allow chapters the opportunity to showcase their pride for and knowledge of agriculture, agricultural education, and FFA in the State of New Jersey. This competition will provide students of the winning chapter with the opportunity to attend and present at the National FFA Convention.

DESCRIPTION

The Hall of States Exhibit Event will develop pride for members from the Garden State, while they introduce non-residents to the traditions of our state, and expose all show attendees to the diversity of American Agriculture. Winners will have the opportunity to interact with over 50,000 National FFA Convention goers, and display their pride for the State of New Jersey. Participants will submit a written plan by April 1st and demonstrate their ability to interact with visitors to their exhibit in no more than 10 minutes in a Hall of States setting at the State FFA Convention. (Exact date, time, and location will be outlined in the State FFA Convention Announcement and Registration materials.)

RULES

1. Each chapter will be permitted only one team, with no more than three (3) members.
2. All activites shall be confined to a space 8' deep x 10' wide x 8' tall. Consider that a 8' x 30" table is included in those parameters.
3. All activites, signs, and posters should be confined to the size limits of the exhibit booth.
4. No electricity will be provided; therefore, all electronics must be battery powered.
5. The Hall of States Exhibit Event will be divided into two parts; the written plan, and the demonstration and exhibit.
6. The four teams with highest scores on the Written Plan will be invited to compete at the New Jersey State FFA Convention.
7. The team with the highest total score (written plan/demonstration and display) will be declared the winner at the New Jersey State FFA Convention, and offered the opportunity to travel to National Convention with their exhibit. They will work with the State FFA Specialist and the designated State FFA Officer throughout the process.
8. If the first place team is unable to attend National FFA Convention, their exhibit will be brought out and handled by the New Jersey State FFA Officers.
9. Written plans must be submitted postmarked no later than April 1st.
10. The winning chapter is responsible for all costs associated with the exhibit, including travel to the National FFA Convention. However, three free national convention registrations will be provided to the winning chapter.
11. The winning chapter will receive a $150 award and a plaque.

POSSIBLE TOPICS

• The crops especially noted for the state;
• New innovations in the state such as aquaculture or urban forestry;
• Specialty foods native to the region or products popular in the state;
• How the state's agriculture is serving the urban food markets;
• Environmental and conservation efforts in the state;
• How FFA/Agricultural Education provide training to meet the needs of the agricultural industry in the state;
• Production records of crops or livestock or agri-industry in the state;
• The diverse marketing options in the state such as barge, ship, or rail.

WRITTEN PLAN

The event will be conducted in two parts: I) Written Plan II) Exhibit + Demonstration.

The Written Plan must be labeled with the student's name, FFA Chapter and school. THIS PORTION OF THE APPLICATION IS DUE NO LATER THAN APRIL 1ST TO THE STATE OFFICE. The Executive Board will evaluate and select the top FOUR written plans to attend State Convention.

DELIVERY

The four chapters who are selected to attend State Convention, will need to bring their COMPLETED exhibit to convention. Those chapters will have fifteen (15) minutes to set up their booth. The participants will have no more than ten (10) minutes to demonstrate their ability to interact with visitors to their exhibit. This may include engaging them in an activity, providing them with facts, statistics or other data, and/or challenging them to earn a prize. The students responsible for manning the booth will be judged based upon the criteria listed in the Demonstration Rubric on Page 3. Other things to consider are: attractiveness of display, informational content, the activity is both engaging and suitable for all ages, and the display is done in a professional manner that reflects well on your chapter and the New Jersey FFA Association.