Competition Rules

Important Notice Regarding

CYSA 2020

In the interest of the safety and well-being of Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture (CYSA) participants, family members, and CYSA volunteers, CYSA has regrettably decided to cancel their 2020 public speaking competition due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus and potential challenges related to interprovincial travel.

Watch CYSA’s social media channels (Twitter: @CYSAgriculture, Facebook: facebook.com/CYSA.JOCA, Instagram: Instagram.com/cysa.joca) for updates and news about the 2021 competition and other interesting opportunities from industry partners throughout the year.

1. CYSA is a national competition, open to all Canadian residents between the ages of 11 and 24 years as of the date of competition. There is both a Junior and a Senior competition. The age limits are as follows:

Junior: Ages 11 to 15 (as of the date of competition)
Senior: Ages 16 to 24 (as of the date of competition)

2. Applications can be completed online through the website at cysa-joca.ca or in writing to:

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Inc.
Box 25015, Stone Road Mall, Postal Outlet
370 Stone Road West, Unit 17
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2X0

This year, the competition will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Applications will be date stamped upon arrival and must be received no later than midnight September 30, 2020.  Applications must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Cheques should be made payable to “Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Inc.” Faxes are accepted, but a cheque, cash, or credit card payment via PayPal must be received before your application will be confirmed.

There will be no refunds for cancellation after Wednesday, October 7, 2020.  Contestants are not allowed to ‘transfer’ registrations between competitors if, for whatever reason, they cannot participate in the competition but have already registered.  All applications will be confirmed by e-mail and/or telephone after the registration deadline of September 30.

3. Any previous first place winners of the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition are not eligible to participate in subsequent CYSA competitions. (Exception: Junior winner can compete in Senior competition.)

4. On the day of competition, proof of age will be required (birth certificate or passport) upon registration.
5. Competitors agree to be photographed, taped and/or quoted for promotional purposes throughout the current year and succeeding years.
6. Each province has a reserve allotment of three (3) participants for each age category (junior and senior). When a provincial allotment has been filled, all additional entries will be placed on a master waiting list in the order received. In the event that a province does not fill their allotment, the Board will fill the competition from the master waiting list based on the order in which registrations were received.
7. Competitors are responsible for their own travel and accommodation. CYSA Inc. will only provide accommodation reimbursement to participants if they present their speech on competition day and only if they stay at the host hotel on either the Friday and/or Saturday evening. A total of two nights’ (only Friday and/or Saturday) accommodation is allowable for reimbursement. Any other  requests for accommodation reimbursement are not eligible. To ensure reimbursement of hotel costs, all expense receipts must be received by the CYSA Registrar/Treasurer within 30 days of the competition date.  No claims received past this date will be reimbursed. You must include official, original receipts when submitting your claim. There is a maximum rate at which CYSA will reimburse competitors as a discounted rate is negotiated between CYSA and the official host hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton, Toronto Airport
   3279 Caroga Drive
   Mississauga, ON
   (905) 671-4730
8. All competitors (Juniors and Seniors) will speak on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Both Junior and Senior competitions will commence at 9:00 a.m. There will be no designated order of speaking. Senior participants will be divided into two heats; Junior participants will speak in the order assigned to them upon registration.
9. Speeches may be delivered in either of Canada’s official languages, English or French.
10. Each competitor will present a timed 5 to 7 minute prepared speech  on  a  current  issue pertaining to  Canada’s  agriculture  and  agri-food industries.
11. Competitors in both the Junior and Senior competitions are not permitted to use the emcee podium, but can use the microphone/music stand provided at the front of the auditorium. Failure to do so will disqualify the participant. Participants can choose to use the microphone provided in the middle of the room or to speak freely without the microphone.
12. Competitors are permitted to use flip charts or appropriate posters to illustrate their speech. Slides, films, videos or overhead projectors are not permitted.
13. Competitors will be scored on 120 points: 60 points for presentation and 60 points for content. See the links below for copies of judging scorecards.
14. There will be strict enforcement of the 5-7 minute time frame. Competitors will be penalized for being over/under the established time frame. Time deductions are as follows:

14. Judges will select six (6) speakers from preliminary rounds to compete in the finals. If numbers do not justify a preliminary round for the age group (in the opinion of the CYSA board), it will be eliminated and competitors will compete only once.

15. The decisions of the judges will be final in all instances. Copies of the official judging scorecards will be destroyed immediately following the competition.

16. Cash prizes are generously provided as follows:

17. It is expected that competitors will conduct themselves professionally and appropriately at all times when representing the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition and its sponsors. As with all youth activities, 100% participation is expected from each participant.

18. Should the rules be reproduced by a third party for promotional or other uses, it is to be noted that the rules as defined in the CYSA Inc. Board records for the current year in question will prevail in all and any circumstances.

19. Should any issue or concern arise at any time during the competition, the President and the Board Chair will review the matter and their decision will be final in all instances.

Evaluation Criteria

Competitors will be evaluated according to the following score sheets:

Senior Score Sheet

Junior Score Sheet