The 2020 #SpeakAgMichigan Challenge twists the traditional FFA award program, which recognizes chapters boosting their community’s agricultural literacy by sharing insights about how farmers produce food, fuel and fiber.
With schools closed last spring and limited ability to teach in person, #SpeakAgMichigan transitioned to social media, challenging high school students and Collegiate Farm Bureau members to engage with consumers, develop advocacy skills and earn funds for their chapter.
#SpeakAgMichigan Challenge participants will develop and implement a four-month campaign highlighting designated commodities each month on social media. You may have seen some entries already on MFB’s Facebook and Instagram pages; entrants are doing an amazing job bringing awareness to each month’s commodity — the same commodities featured in our Teacher FARM Crate subscription boxes:
For each month’s commodity MFB provides a share graphic for use on social media. The other five posts must be selected from the 10 commodity-specific options.
Winners will be notified by email and announced on the Michigan Farm Bureau Facebook page.
High School Division: Cash awards will be awarded to the top 10 chapters. Chapters will be recognized during the Michigan FFA State Convention, March 2021.
Collegiate Division: Cash awards will go to the top three Collegiate members, and each of their chapters will receive a cash award for use toward upcoming chapter programming. Winning members and chapters will be recognized during the Collegiate Pre-Conference Event of Growing Together 2021.
High School Division: Each Michigan FFA chapter is eligible to participate through their chapter’s Facebook or Instagram account. Though one individual may post on the chapter’s social media account, there is no individual student high school competition for 2020.
Collegiate Division: All active, registered Collegiate Farm Bureau members are eligible to participate through their personal Facebook or Instagram account. There is no collegiate chapter competition for 2020.
High School FFA Chapters: Alma, Alpena FFA, Ashley FFA, Bad Axe FFA, Breckenridge, Caledonia, Careerline Tech Center AM FFA, Clare-Gladwin FFA Chapter, Coopersville, Genesee Career Institute, Harbor Beach FFA, Ionia, Ithaca, Laker FFA, Montague FFA, North Huron FFA, Olivet, Ravenna, Saline, St. Louis, Unionville-Sebewaing Area, Webberville
Collegiate Farm Bureau Members: Abby Flake, Southwestern Mich. Collegiate Farm Bureau, Van Buren County; Jewel Lantis, MSU Main Campus Collegiate Farm Bureau, Livingston County; Michael Ceja, Delta Collegiate Farm Bureau, Gratiot County; Madelyn Cary, MSU Main Campus Collegiate Farm Bureau, Gratiot County.
Not seeing your people? FFA chapters and Collegiate Farm Bureau members can still register at https://miagclassroom.org/grants/speak/.
The 2020 #SpeakAgMichigan Challenge is supported in part by the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors that contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming.
Contact Katie Eisenberger for more information.