Purpose

The Nebraska State Agricultural Communications Career Development Event, is a simplified version of the national event. It includes these four elements:

  • Team Media Plan
  • Media Plan Presentation
  • Editing Exercise
  • Communications Quiz

The purpose of the Agricultural Communications Career Development Event is to provide individuals with basic communications skills necessary to take advantage of career opportunities in agricultural communications. Public communications about agricultural products, practices and policies are essential to the future of agriculture. Students who are equipped with strong communication skills and who can use a variety of media to help the public understand issues related to the agricultural industry have a bright future in the job market.

This event draws from Ag Communication curricula that contain the following elements:

  • Strategic Communications/Integrated Multimedia Communications
  • Science literacy
  • Public Issues and Policy
  • Presentation strategies
  • News writing/editing APA style.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO FORMAT STARTING 2023:

Pre-qualifying event open to ALL schools in Nebraska will be held via Zoom during the first two weeks of February. Top 10 teams from the pre-qualifying event will be invited to the state finals and to submit a full Media Plan. For full details of the change in format, see “Section 8. Event Format” in the downloadable handbook.

Media Plan Scenario for 2024

Your chapter’s agricultural communications committee has been approached by an organization that represents agriculture, farmers, and ranchers in your state, such as the Farm Bureau or a commodity board, to select, promote, and/or recognize a commodity or commodity group in your state to various media outlets regarding their commitment/service to the agricultural industry, innovative programs or techniques they have developed or promoted, and/or ways they have promoted the agricultural industry through their efforts in your state. Your committee has the option to decide what is included in the promotion of this commodity/commodity group. This promotion might include one or more of the following:

  • innovative production, harvest, or marketing techniques
  • service/leadership in local communities or the state
  • providing a unique solution to a problem facing producers/stakeholders related to that commodity
  • a commitment to food safety or other attributes associated with the commodity/commodity group
  • engagement for youth, educators, and the public to promote an understanding of agriculture

Media Plan Submission

Media plans should be submitted by the Top 10 Finalist Teams (announced in mid-February).  Media plans should be submitted no later than March 15, 2024, for those who qualify for the in-person event.  

Click here to submit a media plan.  

Click to view Ag Communications CDE study materials.

Click here to view the Ag Communications CDE schedule. 

Superintendents:

Dr. Laura Young

ALEC Assistant Professor of Practice
laura.young@unl.edu

Download Handbook & Rules

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Interested in careers in Ag Communication? Visit the sites below to find out more about degrees, opportunities and careers related to this area.