Premier Leadership · Personal Growth · Career Success

#SpeakAg Dialogues: What Is the Biggest Challenge Young Farmers Will Face in Their First Five Years on the Farm?

This is a 45-minute lesson plan built around the National FFA Organization’s “#SpeakAg Dialogues” video on the biggest challenge young farmers will face in their first five years on the farm. Through listening and communication icebreaker activities, viewing the discussion video, voting, and follow-up persuasion exercises, students explore differing perspectives on agricultural issues and practice effective, respectful communication. It includes an accompanying student worksheet for note-taking while watching the video.

At a glance

Learning objectives
  • Classify varying perspectives on issues impacting the agricultural industry.
  • Demonstrate effective communication strategies to persuade other.
Time required
45 minutes
Materials
  • Internet access to play the video in real time or embed it in a PowerPoint ahead of time
  • A copy of the "#SpeakAg Dialogues: How should America prioritize farmland?" worksheet
  • Website: FFA.org/literacy-and-advocacy
  • Video: #SpeakAg Dialogues: What is the biggest challenge young farmers will face in their first five years on the farm? (https://vimeo.com/260558290/27b4c3d28b)
Created
02/2018 by the National FFA Organization
Suggested Use
This quick lesson plan would work well as part of: an introductory agriculture lesson; a public relations lesson; an agricultural business lesson.

#SpeakAg Dialogue | What is the biggest challenge young farmers will face in their first five years on the farm?

This panel discussion, part of the National FFA Organization’s Agricultural Literacy and Advocacy Platform, brings together representatives from USDA, CNH Industrial Capital, and Farm Credit to examine the biggest challenges young farmers face in their first five years. Panelists Danielle Waterworth and Gary debate whether controlling operational expenses or developing management and leadership skills matters most, while addressing topics like land access, credit scores, financing equipment, and mentorship programs. The conversation also includes audience questions about multi-generational farms, rural entrepreneurship, and adapting to constant change in agriculture.

Downloads & Links

Aligned Standards

AFNR Career Ready Practices

  • CRP.04Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason. Career-ready individuals communicate thoughts, ideas and action plans with clarity, whether using written, verbal and/or visual methods.

AFNR Performance Element

  • CS.01Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the agriculture, food & natural resources career cluster.

Common Career Technical Core

  • AG1Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster.

Common Core – Speaking and Listening

  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Common Core – Writing

  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

FFA Precept

  • FFA.CS-MCommunication: Effectively interact with others in personal and professional settings.
  • FFA.PG-JMental Growth: Embrace cognitive and intellectual development relative to reasoning, thinking and coping.
  • FFA.PL-AAction: Assume responsibility and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired results, no matter what the goal or task at hand.

NASDCTEc

  • AGC10.03Compare and contrast issues affecting the AFNR industry including biotechnology, employment, safety, environmental and animal welfare to demonstrate an understanding of the trends and issues important to careers in this industry.

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