Employment Skills LDE: The FFA Contest That Is Literally a Job Interview
Deep Dives on Specific FFA Contests and What They Teach
Few school activities let you practice a job interview in a setting where the stakes are low and someone will give you feedback. FFA’s Employment Skills event does. This article covers what FFA says the event involves, what recruiters quoted in FFA publications say about interviews and how to prepare. The title says the contest is “literally” a job interview; FFA’s page says it simulates real-world employer activities, which is close but not the same thing, and the limits section explains why that matters.
- Key takeaway: the event is a rehearsal for the job search, and the same preparation works for real interviews.
- Official description: practical job search and interview experience.
What FFA Says the Event Is
FFA’s Employment Skills page says the event helps FFA members develop, practice and demonstrate essential skills needed for employment in agriculture. The event simulates real-world activities used by employers, giving practical job search and interview experience that prepares members for future careers in agriculture. The page does not list the specific components, so this article does not either; use the current handbook for the format.
What Recruiters Say in FFA Publications
Tractor Supply Company’s Recruiting Manager (2017)
FFA’s You’re Hired! Interview Tips To Land the Job You Want interviews Adam Bogren, manager of recruiting for Tractor Supply Co. He says applicants should be ready for questions such as “Tell me about yourself,” strengths and weaknesses, accomplishments they are proud of and a time they used leadership skills. He says thoughtful questions about the company, the role or the position show the applicant prepared, and suggests asking about a typical day, growth prospects, biggest challenges and rewards.
Red flags he names include not knowing readily available company information, not respecting the interviewer’s time by missing a call or arriving late, and not taking the interview seriously. His tips: research the company and, if possible, the interviewers; be yourself; and write down questions ahead of time.
Indiana Farm Bureau’s Talent Acquisition Specialist (2021)
FFA’s Interview Preparation for the Summer Job of Your Dreams quotes Tiffany Hackett, a talent acquisition specialist for the Indiana Farm Bureau. The advice, as reported, covers finding openings on job boards, AgCareers.com and through school or community contacts; polishing a résumé and including FFA experience and awards; speaking to time management and leadership in the interview; handling a virtual interview by limiting distractions and preparing questions; and sending a thank-you note afterward. The article suggests practicing through the Employment Skills event or mock interviews with your advisor and classmates.
FFA Tools for the Job Search
FFA’s 2017 article notes that its My Journey platform offers a Resume Generator, a cover letter template and job interview practice tips. The related guide on this site, on résumés, covers how to describe contest experience.
Preparation Checklist
| Stage | Do this |
|---|---|
| Before | Research the organization and, if possible, the interviewers; write your questions down |
| Practice | Rehearse answers to common questions aloud with an advisor or classmate |
| Day of | Arrive early, answer the phone or video call on time, bring your list |
| During | Be yourself; give specific examples of leadership and teamwork; ask your questions |
| After | Send a thank-you note within a day or two |
The checklist combines the recruiters’ advice above. The “within a day or two” timing is this site’s suggestion, since Hackett’s advice does not give a timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have little work experience?
FFA’s 2021 article Craft the Perfect Digital Resume says accomplishments from volunteer or extracurricular activities can expand a résumé without an extensive work history. FFA’s 2022 piece A Resume Makes the First Impression quotes a Bayer Crop Science human resources expert recommending a “Leadership and Involvement” section where a leadership position reads like a job, with your title and responsibilities.
How fast do hiring managers read?
The 2021 article says experts put it at five to ten seconds, so the most important information belongs in the top third of the page.
Honest Limits
A contest simulation is not a real hiring process. Real interviews vary widely by employer, role and industry, and two recruiters quoted by FFA cannot speak for all of them. The event page describes format at a high level and does not say how winners do in later job searches, and no source cited here measures it. Treat the event as practice and the recruiters’ advice as informed opinion.
Past presidents on this site whose bios show career moves beyond agriculture or into business include Javier Moreno, whose path led through Penn State to Toyota; Seth Derner, who co-founded a learning company; and Trent McKnight, a rancher and London School of Economics graduate.
Sources
- National FFA Organization: Employment Skills
- National FFA Organization: You’re Hired! Interview Tips To Land the Job You Want (2017)
- National FFA Organization: Interview Preparation for the Summer Job of Your Dreams (2021)
- National FFA Organization: Craft the Perfect Digital Resume (2021)
- National FFA Organization: A Resume Makes the First Impression (2022)