About this event
Phase 1 is the team skills challenge: 45 minutes of hands-on stations such as mowers, pavers, irrigation and pruning, with each skill taking up to 20 minutes, worth 400 team points. A judge also scores team cooperation during it, worth 50. Each member then takes the general knowledge exam, objective questions on a scan form worth 150. Next comes identification of plants, pests, disorders and beneficial insects from a printed list, worth 140, and landscape estimating from a drawing, worth 100. In verbal customer assistance the member plays a customer service rep helping a judge, after 1 minute to review materials, worth 50. Last, each member does propagation or potting, picked on the day, and answers an official's questions, worth 50. Times for the exam, ID, estimating and propagation or potting are not stated. Teams have four members and all four scores count: 490 points each and 2,410 for the team. No event-specific grade limits are printed. Work clothing is highly recommended. Bring a clean clipboard and two No. 2 pencils; a hand pruner or knife is optional. Basic five-function calculators, an architect's scale and hand pruners are provided, and no other calculators are allowed. Touching specimens is not allowed unless a practicum calls for it. State winners go on to the national event, held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationTeam skills challenge 45 min (each skill up to 20 min); customer assistance 1 min review, conversation length not stated; exam, ID, estimating and propagation or potting not stated
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryPlant Systems
Your plan
How to study
Built from the official handbook. Take the check and read every lesson here with no account; a free account keeps your progress and opens flashcards, practice and full exams.
Find your weakest area
Take the 8-question check below: one question from each of the 8 biggest areas. It tells you where to start.
Start the checkLearn every area
Every area of the official handbook is below. Each has a short lesson, flashcards and practice, plus free reading.
See the areasPractice until every bar is full
Practice gives you one question at a time and leans toward the areas you miss. Your readiness meter fills as you get them right in every area.
PracticeTake a full-length exam
50 questions, a practice length. Your readiness meter counts your last 3 full exams from the past 30 days, and 90% fills each one.
Take a practice exam
The areas of the exam
Nursery/Landscape Principles
Plant Materials
Plant Disorders
Cultural Practices
Design and Construction
Supplies and Equipment
Interpersonal Relations
Business Management
Records and Reports
Team skills challenge tasks (21 printed skill cards)
Nursery propagation and potting
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Nursery/Landscape exam. Each one is graded the moment you answer, with the reason, and the last screen tells you which area to study first. No account needed.
Judging
What judges score
Verbal customer assistance
- First impression5
- Personal rapport5
- Clarifying questions5
- Needs and wants5
- Features and benefits5
- Matching needs and wants5
- Trial close5
- Objections5
- Close transaction5
- Active listening5
Exam day
What to expect
The written exam
Official format: Team skills challenge 45 min (each skill up to 20 min); customer assistance 1 min review, conversation length not stated; exam, ID, estimating and propagation or potting not stated.
Written from the handbook
The exam covers the areas the event's handbook lists, from the references it names. Practice questions here are drawn from the same areas.
How you advance
How many advance from districts to states and on to the National FFA Convention & Expo (National Convention) depends on your association's rules. Study the official handbook: it lists every part of the event and how each is scored.
Exam format
- TeamTeam of 4
Competition levels: District Career Development Events, then State Career Development Events, then National FFA Convention & Expo
Official reference books
Listed in the official FFA handbook. Your school or public library may have them.
- Introduction to Horticulture by Schroeder, Seagle, Felton, Ruter, Kell and Krewer, current edition, Pearson Prentice Hall (paid book)
- Introductory Horticulture by Reiley and Shry, current edition, Cengage Learning (paid book)
- Ornamental Horticulture by Jack Ingels, current edition, Cengage Learning (paid book)
- Introduction to Plant and Soil Science and Technology by Biondo and Lee, current edition, Pearson Prentice Hall (paid book)
- Landscaping Principles and Practices by Jack Ingels, current edition, Cengage Learning (paid book)
- Landscaping Construction by David Sauter, current edition, Cengage Learning (paid book)
- Landscape Training Manuals for Installation, Irrigation, and Maintenance Technicians, current edition, National Association of Landscape Professionals (paid book)
- Turfgrass Science and Management by Robert D. Emmons, current edition, Cengage Learning (paid book)
- Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices by Hartmann, Davies, Kester and Genieve, current edition, Pearson Education (paid book)
- Practical Horticulture by Rice and Rice, current edition, Pearson (paid book)
- Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr, current edition, Stipes Publishing (paid book)
- Know It and Grow It III by Carl E. Whitcomb, current edition, Lacebark (paid book)
- Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants by Steven M. Still, current edition, Stipes Publishing (paid book)
- Herbaceous Perennial Plants by Allan M. Armitage, current edition, Stipes Publishing (paid book)
- Landscape Construction Procedures, Techniques, and Design by Floyd Giles, current edition, Stipes Publishing (paid book)
- Lawn and Landscape (trade periodical)
- Landscape Management (trade periodical)
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.