CDEs & LDEs

Through Career and Leadership Development Events (CDEs &LDEs), participating FFA members in grades 7 to 12 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 levels. This is a great way for students to get involved! 

We offer the following CDEs and LDEs:

Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems - Advisor: Mr. Castle
The agricultural mechanics event seeks to effectively prepare the students for the expectations of the agricultural mechanics’ workplace. Workers seeking careers in agricultural mechanics must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill they must also develop the ability to solve difficult problems. This event blends the testing of manipulative skills and knowledge required for careers in fabrication and construction. 

Agriculture Welding - Advisor: Mr. Urueta
To evaluate the contestant’s manipulative skills, general knowledge, and professional presentation as these correlate to his/her preparation for employment in the broad field of welding (agricultural, industrial, or other). The team will be composed of four members with the top three scores being the team score.

Agriscience Fair - Advisor: Ms. Day
The FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes middle and high school students who are studying the application of scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises.

Agronomy - Advisor: Mr. Castle
The purpose of the agronomy contest is to create interest and promote understanding in agronomy by providing opportunities for recognition through the demonstration of skills and proficiencies. It is the intention of the contest to provide a venue for students to explore career opportunities, skills, and proficiencies in the agronomy industry. Participants in the Agronomy CDE possess an in-depth knowledge of seeds, insects, soils, and crops. This event blends knowledge as well as critical thinking to evaluate many crop scenarios.

Best Informed Greenhand - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
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. This contest is for freshmen members only. 

Citrus Judging - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
The Citrus Contest seeks to effectively prepare students for the expectations of the citrus industry. Workers seeking a career in the citrus industry must develop a high degree of knowledge and skill in industry standards as well as critical thinking, oral communication, and plant biology. The knowledge gained from this contest can also be applied to general fruit production. 

Cotton Judging - Advisor: Mr. Castle
The Cotton contest seeks to effectively prepare the students for the expectation of the cotton industry. Workers seeking careers in cotton must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill, they must also develop the ability to solve difficult problems. This contest blends the critical thinking, mathematical, and plant biology knowledge and skills along with the ability to express oneself through oral communication. The knowledge gained from this contest can also be applied to general crop production.

Dairy Cattle Judging - Advisor: Ms. Clemente
The purpose of the Dairy Cattle Judging Career Development Event (CDE) is to provide students with new insights into dairy science by evaluating and ranking dairy cattle based on breed characteristics, confirmation, and performance. 

Farm Power - Advisor: Mr. Urueta
The contest shall be designed to test a student’s mechanical skills and abilities relating to power equipment used in agriculture and shall serve as a training forum for students interested in pursuing a career as an equipment technician.

Grapevine Judging - Advisor: Mr. Castle
The grapevine pruning event seeks to effectively prepare agricultural students for the expectations of the viticulture workplace. Workers seeking a career in viticulture must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill, they must also develop the ability to critique issues, problem solving, and access a vineyard. This event prepares students for such tasks.

Grapevine Pruning - Advisor: Mr. Castle
The Grapevine Pruning event seeks to effectively prepare the students to learn current agriculture viticulture practices and procedures used in today’s industry. Workers seeking careers in agriculture must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill, they must also develop the ability to solve difficult problems. This event blends the testing of manipulative skills and knowledge required for careers in agriculture production.

Marketing (Cooperatives) - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
The Marketing event seeks to effectively prepare the students with the practices and operations of Agricultural Cooperatives. Workers seeking careers in cooperative marketing must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill they must also develop the ability to solve difficult problems. This event blends the testing of manipulative skills and knowledge required for careers in operations and marketing. 

Milk Quality and Dairy - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
To enhance learning activities related to milk quality, federal milk marketing, attributes of milk products and substitutes for them. The focus of this Career Development Event is on achievement of high quality raw milk, federal milk marketing orders and attributes of selected products of milk. 

PCA Agri-Finance - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
The purpose of the contest is to familiarize students with the Farm Credit System and agricultural finance. All test questions will be drawn from the study materials enclosed with complete rules for the test included. 

Small Engines - Advisor: Mr. Braziel
The purpose of the contest is to stimulate an appreciation for small engine repair and serve as one method of training future farmers in the skills and safety practices needed in diagnosing engine malfunctions.

Veterinary Science - Advisor: Ms. Slover
The Veterinary Science event seeks to effectively prepare the students for the expectations of the animal health care and services (Veterinary Hospitals/Clinics, Grooming Facilities, Pet Stores, Kennels/Boarding Facilities, and Feed Stores) workplace. Workers seeking careers in the animal health care field must develop a high degree of knowledge, skill, and ability to solve difficult problems. This event blends the testing of skills and knowledge required for careers in the animal science career pathway. 

Agriculture Issues - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
The purpose of the agricultural issues forum is to present a current issue to a public audience; therefore, professional ethics and standards are to be considered. Ignoring truthful information, falsifying needed information, using unreliable sources and plagiarism are violation examples which could result in disqualification. 

Creed Recitation - Advisor: Mr. Braziel
The FFA Creed outlines the organization’s beliefs regarding the agricultural industry, FFA membership and the value of citizenship and patriotism. The FFA Creed is recited by FFA members, as part of the requirements to earn the Greenhand Degree. The purpose of the Creed Speaking Career Development Event is to develop the public speaking abilities of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade FFA members as well as develop their self-confidence and contribute to their advancement in the FFA degree program.

Extemporaneous Speaking - Advisor: Ms. Clemente
The FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking Career Development Event is designed to develop the ability of all FFA members to express themselves on a given agricultural subject without having prepared or rehearsed its content in advance. This gives the FFA members an opportunity to formulate their remarks for presentation in a very limited amount of time. The event requires students to think on their feet, state their case quickly and persuasively, and to be able to answer relevant questions based upon their presentation. 

Impromptu Public Speaking - Advisor: Ms. Day
The purpose of the Impromptu Public Speaking Career Development Event is to foster and develop the speaking abilities of FFA members as well as develop their self-confidence and contribute to their advancement in interpersonal skill attainment and leadership development. The intention of the Impromptu Contest is to offer a more realistic, practical speaking contest to better prepare our students for public statements, media coverage, and general questions about the FFA and Agriculture Industry. Students will develop the valuable speaking skills necessary to be professional, competent public representatives of the FFA Organization and Agriculture Industry.

Job Interview - Advisor: Mrs. Romans
The Job Interview Career Development Event seeks to effectively prepare the students for the expectations of interviewing for available positions within the Agricultural Industry. Students seeking careers within the Agricultural Industry must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill; they must also develop the ability to interview through communication in both written and oral forms; and be able to complete a resume, cover letter and job application accurately. 

Opening & Closing Ceremonies - Advisor: All Staff
The Opening and Closing Ceremony LDE event is designed to develop agricultural leadership by providing for FFA members participation in public speaking activities and stimulating interest in leadership and citizenship. 

Parliamentary Procedure - Advisor: Ms. Clemente
The purpose of this contest is to encourage students to learn to effectively participate in a business meeting and to assist in the development of their leadership skills.

Prepared Public Speaking - Advisor: Ms. Clemente
The purpose of the Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event is to foster and develop the speaking abilities of FFA members as well as develop their self confidence and contribute to their advancement in interpersonal skill attainment and leadership development.