AGRICULTURAL PROFICIENCY AWARDS

• Applicants must be current FFA members in good standing.

• Only activities, events, and SAE records completed during FFA membership may be included.

• Members may apply the calendar year immediately following high school graduation, but not beyond.

• Applications must be based on at least two calendar years of SAE records in the selected award area.

• SAE projects must fit the written description of the selected proficiency award area. Applications in the wrong category will not be recategorized by state staff and be marked Participant. Refer to the FAQs for more information.

• Only one application per award area may be submitted to national competition.

Award categories follow the National FFA Proficiency Award list, which is periodically updated by National FFA. Updated lists (including those for the upcoming 1-2 years) can be found on the National FFA Proficiency Awards webpage.

• March 1 – Application due in AET.

• Early March – Advisors meet for state proficiency sifting; applications are scored.

• Mid-March – State staff and volunteers coordinate finalist interviews. Interview sign-ups are distributed via the Idaho Ag Ed Listserv.

• During State Leadership Convention – In-person interviews take place. Award winners are announced on stage during session.

• June 1 - Deadline for applications advancing to the national level.

• Chapter: Chapters are encouraged to implement proficiency awards in their local awards program to recognize member accomplishments, recruit applicants, and build momentum for state participation.

• State: Winners are honored on stage at the State Leadership Convention and receive a plaque. State winners must receive a gold-ranking in order to qualify for the national level.

• National: Gold-ranking state winners advance for national consideration, with recognition at the National FFA Convention & Expo for finalists and winners.

• Members must complete and save their applications through AET.

• Once all checklist items are complete, the student should generate a final version from their side of AET.

• Advisors must review applications for accuracy, confirm that SAE records align with the selected award area, and then submit applications through the advisor’s AET access level using the Submission List (under Reports).

• Official resources, rubrics, and guidance are available on the National FFA Website and in the Idaho FFA Resources Folder.

All State Awards submitted through AET (National Chapter, Agriscience, Proficiency Awards, and State Star Awards) must meet allowable replicated text thresholds. Applications that exceed these limits will be automatically disqualified and ineligible for awards. All rulings from the Idaho FFA State Advisor or their appointed representatives are final and not subject to appeal.

Allowable Limit for Agricultural Proficiency Awards – 10% or less.

• Students may reuse their own text, but not text from others.

• Applications may be disqualified or deferred for submission in a later year if thresholds are exceeded.

Rubrics are available in the Idaho FFA resources folder.

• Application Score: Based on SAE type.

  • Entrepreneurship-only: 104 points

  • Placement-only: 104 points

  • Combined Entrepreneurship & Placement: 106 points

• Interview Score: Maximum of 50 points

  • Appearance: 10 points

  • Communication: 10 points

  • Knowledge of SAE & Application: 30 points

• Final Score: Application + Interview. In case of a tie, the interview score will be used as the tiebreaker.

What happens if I apply in the wrong proficiency category?
SAE projects must fit the written description of the selected proficiency award area. Applications submitted in the wrong category will not be recategorized by state staff and will be marked Participant. If you are unsure which category fits best, contact Idaho FFA State Staff before submission.

Can I reuse parts of my own past proficiency application?
Yes. Students may reuse their own text, but not text from others.

What happens if my application exceeds the replicated text threshold?
Applications with more than 10% replicated text will be disqualified. Applications between 10–15% may be evaluated for exceptions only if the replication involves sibling submissions with clear differences.

How many proficiency award applications can I submit?
Members may apply in more than one area, but only one application per award area is allowed.

Do I need a certain amount of SAE experience to apply?
Yes. Applications must be based on at least two calendar years of SAE records in the selected award area.

Can a student participate in the State Proficiency Award program and also compete in other award areas (such as State Star, Agriscience Fair, or CDE/LDE events)?
Yes. Students are encouraged to pursue multiple award and competition opportunities. However, any potential scheduling conflicts must be communicated in advance with Idaho FFA State Staff and the appropriate event superintendents to ensure fair participation and smooth event management.