Training Techniques Used to Prepare National FFA Officer Candidates for the National FFA Officer Selection Process

Annually every state has the opportunity to send one candidate to vie for a National FFA Officer position. Candidates spend months preparing for the national selection process where they are evaluated on eight character competencies. The purpose of this study was to look at the training and preparation methods used by candidates to prepare for the National FFA Officer Selection process. The target populations for the study were candidates who competed for a National Office over the last five years from 2006-2010 and State Agriculture Education Supervisors. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. The candidate population consisted of 115 past National Officer Candidate with an accessible population of 94 candidates. Sixty-one (65%) of the former National Officer Candidates responded to the survey. Thirty-four (65.4%) of the 52 State Supervisors responded. Some of the most significant findings included the fact that an overwhelming majority of the candidates develop their own preparation method with assistance from other individuals. Most of them are selected between four and seven months prior to the National Selection Process and an overwhelming majority are full time students while preparing to run for a National FFA Office. Other findings included the training activities in which candidates participated, the assistance that was provided to them along with their thoughts and feelings on the competencies and selection process