College of AgricultureTo prepare students for the rigors of full-time employment by having them complete a project that simulates expectations of the real world work force.
This competition puts all the many classes and hours of class work together for a tangible outcome. Students learn the most by actually putting into use methods taught in the classroom.
The leadership skills they exude with (their new honed presentation skills) is imperative for success. Confidence is what sets apart many employees for a journey to the top of the corporate ladder.
Fellowship among the students from different colleges opens many doors and opportunities for the students future. Team members from your own team and from other teams are your future colleagues.
Awards Will Be Presented to 2- Year, 4-Year Western, and 4-Year International Divisions
There are two (2) different classifications 2-Year Colleges and 4-Year Colleges. In the 4-Year division each college and team members can enter both the Western United States Division and the International Division. Each team will present a proposed product or brand to a group of interested investors or to the board of directors of their company.
The presentation may use a visual computer program and each school is responsible for bringing their own equipment (computer, projector, whatever is needed). A screen will be provided and set up in the competition room.
All of the college students must be in good standing and full-time students. The advisor and graduate students (4 Year Division) may assist in the development and may run the computer during the presentation, but are not allowed to serve as presenters or answer any questions. All team members standing in front of the judges must have a speaking part and only speaking team members may answer judges questions. Teams can be any size with the reminder that room size may limit the amount of space. Props can be used, and are recommended in the room set up, but no handouts are to be given to the judges. Food samples and packaging may be given to each judge during the presentation (note this is included in your 20 minutes).
In the 4-Year division do not use existing names or trademarks for the product, however, competitors may use existing names and trademarks.
Each team will have 5 minutes to set up the room before presenting. At completion of presentation the room must be put back as it was found within 2 minutes.
The judges have 8 minutes to ask questions. Audience members, except audience members with the presenting team, will exit the room before questions begin.
If a college/school has an emergency equipment failure they have a one time additional 5 minutes to remedy the problem.
All score cards and rankings will be posted after the awards have been announced.
Each school must have at least one representative observing each division entered throughout the entire competition (mandatory). Each school must fill out a score sheet for best power point, best product or product most likely to succeed, and most innovative marketing idea. A sign-in sheet will be available to ensure that each team has a representative in the room at all times. The primary goal is for the students to learn from each other.
Each college is encouraged to provide one judge for each division entered. Judges chosen are encouraged to have industry experience. The committee will provide at least 4 judges per division if a college waives the right to provide a judge. One panel for each division will be responsible for scoring all teams in their particular division. Judges will be required to judge each division with breaks and encouraged to attend the luncheon and dinner.
Judges will score each team individually on the provided score sheet. There will be absolutely no discussion or talking between judges about any of the teams until their final ranked card is turned into the score keeper at the end of the competition. Judges will have an orientation meeting Friday & Saturday morning, April 18th and 19th. Details will be emailed to the judges by April 1st.
Will be competing against 2-year colleges
The selected product for presentation may be a consumer food product or an input for a consumer food product. Select an existing food product (example– milk, beef, baby food, oat flour, etc.) and design a one year new promotional campaign with a budget of $3 million dollars.
The product can be a national or regional but the campaign must be focused on the United States marketing segment west of the Mississippi River (including Hawaii).
The promotion plan could include any of the following as well as new innovative ideas
2-Year Colleges
Ties will be broken by the addition of the *Position, Price, and Promotion score on all the judges score cards.
*Position, Price, and Promotion (score for tie-breaking): 60 points
Promotion (include details of avenues chosen and cost of each)
Presentation: 20 points
Team synergy, speaking ability, eye contact, voice inflections, and confidence
ANSWERS TO JUDGES QUESTIONS (8 minutes) excluding judge from the presenting College: 20 points
Total Points: 100
Both divisions will have 20 minutes total to present their campaign to the judges and audience. Penalty of 20 points is administered to participants if the presentation exceeds the time limit. For each 30-second interval beyond 20 minutes, there is an additional 20 point penalty. Time will be cut off at 21 minutes. Time begins when the first presenter starts speaking. Each team will be given a 5 minute, 1 minute, 30 second, and 15 second time warning that faces the presenters so that they can see how much time is remaining.
The selected product may be a consumer food product or an input for a consumer food product. The objective of the plan should be to increase returns to your investors or board of directors. It can be any of the following: a new product, an existing product that is being repositioned, a new market for the product, or a new use for an existing product. The Western United States product can be national or regional but the campaign must be focused on the United States marketing segment west of the Mississippi River (including Hawaii). The International product must be an exportable product with the campaign focused on a foreign market. The Western United States and International teams may be composed of the same members. However, the Western United States and International team products must be distinctly different from one another. (Determination of distinctly different will be evaluated by the WCFMC Committee, any concerns with a possibility of conflict should be brought before the committee prior to the competition).
Both divisions will have 20 minutes total to present their campaign to the judges and audience. Penalty of 20 points is administered to participants if the presentation exceeds the time limit. For each 30-second interval beyond 20 minutes, there is an additional 20 point penalty. Time will be cut off at 21 minutes. Time begins when the first presenter starts speaking. Each team will be given a 5 minute, 1 minute, 30 second, and 15 second time warning that faces the presenters so that they can see how much time is remaining
4-Year Western Division - Ties will be broken by the addition of the *Position, Price, Place, Promotion score on all the judges score cards. If a tie still persists the number 1 judge total score ranking will be used to break the tie.
Introduction: 20 points
Product definition, goals, objectives, volume of sales, target market
Industry analysis and primary research: 25 points
Market analysis: 25 points
Potential, Market Share, Need, Demographics
Competitive Analysis: 25 points
Compare to other substitute products (i.e. price, position, strengths, weaknesses), SWOT analysis
*Position, Price, Place, Promotion (score for tie-breaking): 50 points
Place include distribution channels, Promotion (include details of avenues chosen and cost of each)
Financials: 25 points
Must include for years 1, 2, & 3, gross sales, net sales, gross margin, expenses (i.e. administration and marketing), net profit (before taxes)
Presentation: 50 points
Team synergy, speaking ability, eye contact, voice inflections, and confidence
ANSWERS TO JUDGES QUESTIONS (8 minutes) judge from the presenting College may not ask questions: 30 points
Total Points: 250
Ties will be broken by the addition of the *Position, Price, Place, Promotion score on all the judges score cards. If a tie still persists the number 1 judge total score ranking will be used to break the tie.
Introduction: 25 points
Product definition, goals, objectives, volume of sales, target market
Industry analysis: 20 points
Market analysis: 25 points
Potential, Market Share, Need, Demographics
Competitive Analysis: 20 points
Compare to other substitute products (i.e. price, position, strengths, weaknesses), SWOT analysis
*Position, Price, Place, Promotion (score for tie-breaking): 50 points
Place includes distribution channels (an emphasis– 25 points will be judged on distribution channels), Promotion (include details of avenues chosen and cost of each)
Financials: 25 points
Must include for years 1, 2, & 3, gross sales, net sales, gross margin,expenses (i.e. administration and marketing), net profit (before taxes)
Presentation: 50 points
Team synergy, speaking ability, eye contact, voice inflections, and confidence
ANSWERS TO JUDGES QUESTIONS (8 minutes) judge from the presenting College may not ask questions: 35 points
Total Points: 250
