CDEś/LDE's

Career and Leadership Development Events develop college and career readiness skills. The competitive events serve as an outgrowth of instruction in the agricultural education classroom for FFA members in grades 7 to 12.

Through CDEs and LDEs, participating FFA members are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement.

CDE and LDE events occur at the local, state and national level. They are are designed and regularly evaluated to meet AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards.

Ag Mechanics

The Ag Mechanics CDE challenges FFA members to apply their technical knowledge and hands-on skills in areas such as welding, electricity, plumbing, tool identification, and equipment repair. Students complete both written exams and practical projects that mirror real world agricultural industry tasks. This event helps members develop proble solving abilities, safety awareness, and mechanical proficiency which is essential for careers in agricultural engineering and maintenance.

Veterinary Sciences

In the Veterinary Science Career Development Event (CDE), students working in teams demonstrate their technical competency with small and large animals by completing a written exams, critical-thinking scenario questions, identifications and hands-on practicums. This contest creates an opportunity for students to put their passion for animals to the test. Students identify breeds of animals, veterinary science tools, and parasites.

Milk Quality

The milk quality and products event helps students learn about milk quality, dairy products, and team decision- making. It covers milk production, composition, processing, marketing, and facility operations, focusing on safety and sanitation.

Participants learn about producing quality milk, identifying diseases, recognizing off-flavors, and understanding milk pricing and marketing. The event includes team and individual activities like milk flavor identification, product identification, California Mastitis Test, cheese identification, and problem solving tasks. These activities enhance students’ critical thinking skills and knowledge of dairy product quality and safety.

Agriculture Sales

The purpose of the Agriculture Sales Career Development Event is to provide an individual with the basic skills to take advantage of the career opportunities offered in the agricultural sales field. Sales are an essential part of a market economy. Agricultural products benefit from sales skills, both for inputs for production and the marketing of the products.

Light Horse Judging

The purpose of the Light Horse Judging Career Development Event (CDE) is to provide students with new insights into equine science by evaluating and ranking horses based on breed characteristics, confirmation and performance. Participants will make accurate observations of equine, access desirable traits of horses, make logical placing decisions based on these observations, and defend their decision making process. Participants defend their decisions via oral reasons in front of industry experts. Participant of the Light Horse Judging CDE strengthen their leadership, observation, analysis, critical thinking and communication skills while also developing and exercising a competitive team spirit and building an awareness of career opportunities within the equine industry.

Small Animal

Best Informed Greenhand (BIG)

The objective of the Best Informed Greenhand contest is to understand the aims, purposes, history, and structure of the Local, State, and National FFA student organizations and know the opportunities it makes available as referenced in the current National FFA Manual and State Constitution.

The meats evaluation and technology event provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the meat animal industry, equipping them with valuable employment skills and knowledge of meat animal products. Participants will develop analytical skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of meat terminology, which are essential for optimizing economic returns and meeting consumer needs. The event emphasizes cooperation, communication, and the evaluation of meat products through various individual and team activities.

Meats Evaluation & Technology

Agricultural Issues Forum

The agricultural issues forum allows students to research and present current agricultural issues to public audiences, promoting professional ethics and standards. Participants investigate local, state, national, and international agricultural issues; develop presentations; and demonstrate understanding through portfolios, presentations, and questioning. Teams of three to seven students present their issues creatively, using props and technology.

The Opening and Closing Ceremony LDE is designed to develop agricultural leadership by providing members participation in public speaking activities and stimulating interest in leadership and citizenship

Opening & Closing

Auctioneering

The prepared public speaking event aims to enhance students’ leadership, communication, and citizenship skills through agricultural public speaking activities. Participants present speeches on current agricultural topics, demonstrating their knowledge and speaking abilities.

Prepared Public Speaking

Employment Skills (Job Interview)

The employment skills event helps FFA members develop, practice and demonstrate essential skills needed for employment in the industry of agriculture. The event simulates real-world activities used by employers, providing participants with practical job search and interview experience, helping them prepare for future careers in agriculture.

The extemporaneous public speaking event develops FFA members’ abilities to express themselves on a given agriculture-related topic without prior preparation or rehearsal. Participants formulate and present their remarks in a limited time, showcasing their spontaneous speaking skills. Judges evaluate speaking, presentation, content, and ability to answer questions about the speech’s topic.

Extemporaneous Public Speaking

Creed Speaking/ El Credo

The FFA Creed underscores the organization’s beliefs about agriculture, FFA membership, and the value of citizenship and patriotism. The Creed speaking event enhances public speaking skills. This event is exclusively for seventh, eighth, or ninth grade members- with el credo going up to the 12th grade. Members are evaluated on their ability to memorize and recite the FFA Creed. They also answer questions related to it and basic agriculture

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