Prepared Public SpeakingFFA prep guide for 2026-27

About this event

The speaker uploads a manuscript as a PDF with a signed Statement of Authenticity by the deadline posted on FFA.org. Three to five judges score it before the event and the average counts (200 points). At the event the speaker gives the speech in 6 to 8 minutes with no time warnings (500 points). Judges then ask about the speech or manuscript for 5 minutes (300 points), for 1,000 in all. Each second under 6 or over 8 minutes costs 1 point, and a late manuscript loses 20 points. A manuscript received after the third Friday in September scores zero, though the speaker can still give the speech and answer questions if it arrives at least a week before the event. This is an individual event with one speaker per state association. Each judge ranks the speakers, the ranks are added and the lowest total wins. Open to grades 7-12 under the general rules. FFA Official Dress is highly recommended. The topic must be a current agricultural subject. The manuscript is double-spaced on 8.5 x 11 paper with 1-inch margins in 12-point Times New Roman, Cambria, Arial or Calibri, with a cover page, in-text citations and a matching reference list. Notes are allowed but can lower the score, and any prop means a zero on the speech and questions. Eight preliminary flights send their top two to the semifinals, and the top two of each semifinal flight reach the final. State winners advance to the national event held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.

1. 1

   Read the handbook and the sheet

   Everything is scored on the scorecard below. The official handbook has the rules, the deadlines and what to submit.

   Official handbook (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Outline it against the sheet

   Give each part of your entry the room its points earn, starting from the biggest rows, so nothing on the sheet is left out.

   See the sheet
3. 3

   Write it yourself

   Your entry should be your own work. ChapterPrep's judge scores it and asks questions; it never writes it for you.

4. 4

   Rehearse the speech

   Type or say your speech. The judge scores it on the official scorecard and times you against the 6 to 8 minute window.

   Get judged on your speech
5. 5

   Rehearse to the clock

   Run 6 to 8 minutes, then 5 minutes of questions. At the contest, 1 point comes off for every second under 6 or over 8 minutes. Time every run, out loud, start to finish.

Official reference sources

Listed in the official FFA handbook.

• APA Style Guide, most current edition
• Speak Well, most current edition, Liz O'Brien, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (paid book)

Curated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.

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