Meat Evaluation:
Students develop skills for careers in the meat animal industry as they complete a written exam; evaluate beef carcasses for quality and yield grade; identify various meat cuts, place beef, lamb and pork carcasses, and place wholesale and/or retail cuts.
Coach: Mr. Bednarz
Farm Business Management:
Management skills and economic principles are applied to agriculture and agribusiness situations as team members complete a written exam and solve farm analysis problems.
Coach: Mr. Bednarz
Poultry:
Students apply classroom knowledge to evaluate production, processing, marketing and consumption of chickens, turkeys, processed products and eggs. Participants complete a written exam, solve a management problem, evaluate animals and products, as well as identify various poultry products.
Coach: Mr. Bednarz
Range:
An actual pasture is evaluated on the basis of characteristics of the soil exposed and observations of landscape conditions- slope, gullies, etc. Team members make pasture management recommendations using information provided on a "pasture condition sheet" and by observing landscape and vegetative features. The range evaluation portion of the competition requires members to record the degree of utilization, kind of site, range condition and the predominant decreaser, increaser, and invader plant species while also recommending range management practices
Coach: Mr. Bednarz
Agricultural Technical and Mechanical Systems:
This event tests both technical and agricultural mechanics skills. A team of three or four members must demonstrate their ability to work with others while solving problems. During the event, members complete a written exam and demonstrate problem-solving and hands-on performance skills. The event takes a “systems” approach and emphasizes machinery and equipment systems, related industry and marketing systems, energy systems, structural systems and environmental/natural resource systems.
Coach: Mr. Thompson
Land Evaluation:
Members of land evaluation teams judge sites based on characteristics of the soil and observations of landscape conditions, then recommend land treatments considering factors such as soil characteristics, vegetative conditions and planned use for the site.
Coach: Mr. Thompson
Tractor Tech:
In this three part competition, team members appraise components and parts of tractors and agricultural implements and make recommendations for services needed and not needed, complete a written exam and finally the team of three members, working as a group, will compete in locating and correcting five deliberately placed malfunctions in diesel fueled tractors and safely navigate the repaired tractor through a driving course within the 25 minute time limit.
Coach: Mr. Thompson
Livestock:
Beef cattle, sheep and swine are evaluated for market values and desirable physical traits. Team members also rank livestock for breeding purposes, using observed physical characteristics and performance data.
Coach: Mr. Thompson
Horse Judging:
This CDE allows members to observe and evaluate in order to rank horses based on breed characteristics and conformation. Performance classes are evaluated within various equestrian styles. American Quarter Horse standards are used in performance classes. Three or four member teams with the top three scores counting toward team score.
Coach: Mrs. Snapp
Veterinary Science:
Students working in teams demonstrate their technical competency with small and large animals by completing a written exam, critical-thinking scenario questions, identifications and hands-on practicums.
Coach: Mrs. Snapp
Entomology:
Students apply the fundamentals of entomology and develop skills in identifying common insects and their significance to people and agriculture.
Coach: Ms. Ragsdale
Dairy Cattle:
During this event, team members complete a written exam, evaluate dairy cattle on physical characteristics and analyze cows based on pedigree and herd record. Teams consist of three or four members and the top three scores are compiled for team results.
Coach: Ms. Ragsdale
Ag Communications:
Teams consisting of four members participate in a simulated news conference, then use the information collected to complete practical problems including writing a news story and press release; preparing a radio broadcast; creating a three-page Web site and developing a page layout. Participants also complete a written communications quiz and an editing exercise.
Coach: Ms. Ragsdale
Floriculture:
Classroom knowledge and skills are applied as students identify and evaluate cut flowers, house plants, flowering plants, floral designs and complete an exam that tests their knowledge of floral design, propagation as well as preparation of floral and foliage products for sale.
Coach: Mr. Vineyard
Nursery/Landscape:
This CDE encourages members to apply their landscaping, marketing and service skills as they complete a written exam, identify various landscaping plant materials and evaluate plant materials and landscape plans.
Coach: Mr. Vineyard
More information at: https://www.texasffa.org/cde
910 Woodrow Dr. Lubbock, TX. 79423