Montana Farm Bureau Foundation Youth Speech Contest

Montana Farm Bureau Foundation is excited to announce that our annual Youth Speech Contest will return live and in-person for 2022. The contest will be held during the FFA State Convention on March 31, 2022 in Bozeman.  One of our Foundation's most important goals is to aid in the agricultural education and the leadership development of Montana's youth, and this speech contest fits that goal, and we are offering great prizes to make this an exciting opportunity. The Foundation Youth Speech Contest will be open to students in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. Contestants must submit a transcript of their speech by March 15, 2022, which will be judged prior to the convention. The top twenty contestants will be invited to compete by presenting their speech March 31 from 8 a.m. – noon at the FFA Convention in Bozeman.  

For more information, contact Scott Kulbeck at scottk@mfbf.org or 406-587-3153.

Click here for a registration form or Click here to see how contestants will be judged.

Speech topic:  Supply chain problems and labor shortages have shined a spotlight on the need for and importance of careers in agriculture, food processing, freight transportation and vocational trades.  Why is there currently such a shortage of people working towards a career in those areas and what can be done to address this issue? Consider the following: 

  • Do public opinions toward vocational trades have a negative impact on the educational and career choices for high school students?
  • What are the advantages of choosing to attend a vocational trade school or to pursue a trade apprenticeship over a college degree?
  • What can high school teachers and guidance counselors do to provide students with a broad view of options for their future that includes vocational trades alongside university education options?

The speech contest is open to students currently in the 7th, 8th or 9th grade.  Your prepared speech needs to be between 2.5 - 4 minutes in length.  FFA members, 4-H members and any other student in Montana are eligible to enter the contest. 

Prizes:  1st place = $400.00, 2nd = $300.00, 3rd = $200.00, 4th = $100 and 5th = $50.

Registration and a copy of your speech must be received by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation office by March 13, 2020.