Blog
NAA's DECA Challenge & FFA Auctioneering Career Development
NAA's DECA Challenge
Starting last September, 37 teams of high school DECA members have been hard at work developing a marketing campaign for a full estate sale that utilizes the live auction method and included both real estate and personal property. This Challenge was developed in partnership with DECA and the NAA. Teams of up to three students were required to research the auction industry, develop a marketing campaign, and then produce a 4-minute maximum video presentation presenting their social, print and email direct marketing strategies. Presentations are reviewed by DECA leadership for adherence to their national guidelines, then forwarded to the NAA for final judging and ranking of the top three teams.
In April, the top three teams will be recognized on stage during DECA's International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, CA.
Challenges like this one, give participating students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to address the components of real-life projects, all developing many 21st Century skills that are desired by today's employers. Skills relating to communication, collaboration, creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, initiative, self-direction, and media literacy skills are given the nutrients needed to grow along the way.
To learn more about NAA's DECA Challenge, visit https://www. decadirect.org/articles/craft-a-marketing-campaign-for-a-full-estatesale-with-naa
FFA Auctioneering Career Development Event
The Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association (OSAA), in partnership with the National Auction Association (NAA), and FFA, announces the inaugural Oklahoma FFA Auctioneering Career Development Event (CDE). Held during the OSAA Winter Conference on Thursday, Feb. 8, the contest showcased the impressive talents of dozens of FFA students in a competitive auctioneering environment.
“Our hope is for this contest to provide an avenue to explore and bring awareness to the auction industry and also serve as a model for other state FFA Associations to incorporate the auctioneering CDE into their curriculum,” Morgan Hopson, NAA Director, said. “Participants will learn more about auctioneering as an industry that not only fosters commercial transactions, but also serves as a vibrant platform for verbal and interactive communication.”
Judged by World Champion auctioneers, the contest was open to all high school students who are members of FFA, showcasing a broad array of young talent from across Oklahoma. The competition includes a bid-calling segment in which contestants are judged on professionalism, their chant, voice quality and effective auctioneering.
The top 10 contestants will compete in the final round at the Oklahoma FFA State Convention in May where they will participate in an interview portion of the contest as well as bid-calling. The State Champion will receive prizes that include scholarships and industry memberships, paving their way for further achievements in the auction profession.
“We encourage FFA members interested in auctioneering to participate in this exciting event,” Justin Kennedy, OSAA Director, said. “This event is a way for students to gain real experience in an auction environment and to meet with professionals and learn from them as they increase their communication and industry skills.”