Career Development Events

 "Competition Makes It Fun, Careers Make It Real!"

   The Florence FFA competes in the following CDE's....

* Agricultural Communications:

Teams consisting of five members participate in a simulated news conference, then use theinformation 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.

* Agricultural Mechanics

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.

* Agriscience Fair

Students use the scientific process as they reinforce skills and principles they have learned in agriscience courses. They conduct research projects and prepare a scientific report and display for judging at the state level. The five divisions include Biochemistry/Food Science/Microbiology, Botany, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Zoology

* Cotton Classing

Team members evaluate 50 cotton samples and class each sample as to color grade and leaf grade.

* Dairy Foods

As a result of event outcomes, members develop a greater understanding of quality production, processing, distribution, promotion, marketing and consumption of dairy products. Team members complete a written exam, evaluate milk samples, identify cheeses and distinguish real and artificial dairy foods. Teams are composed of three or four members. The top three scores are tabulated in the team score.

*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.

* 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.

* Food Science And Technology

A four member team designs a new food product or re-designs an existing one using a marketing scenario, as they covers product development and presentation, along with food safety issues. Participants use their sensory skills to evaluate and solve problems while applying sound principles in a decision making process.

* 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.

* Livestock Judging

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.

* Meats Judging

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.

* Nursery And 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.

* Poultry Evaluation

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.

*Range and Pasture Plant Identification

Contestants identify samples of grasses, forbs, legumes, and woody plants and for each indicate length of life, season of growth, origin, and the economic values of the species on wildlife and grazing.

* Tractor Technician

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.

*Wildlife and Recreation Management

Students apply the information gained through enrollment in the agricultural science wildlife management course to demonstrate and identify plant species, proper habitat management practices, safety procedures, game laws, management techniques as well as compass and pacing skills.

* Wool Judging

Members within a team each evaluate fleeces for fineness, length and yield, rank fleeces within a group and give reasons for their placing of those classes. Contestants must be very familiar with all grading standards and evaluation techniques because no measuring devices are to be used during the contest.

Also in the state of Texas there are other CDE's that you can compete in, like...

* Agricultural Sales

Three or four member teams demonstrate the professional sales process including customer relations, advertising and promotion, telephone skills and product display. Members also complete an exam, present a project summary and make a sales presentation for an agricultural product. They complete one of four practical problems and cooperatively solve a market analysis problem.

* Agronomy

Participants complete a 50-question written exam; identify seeds, insects, soils and crops; demonstrate knowledge of agronomic management to solve a practical problems. Teams consist of three or four members and the top three scores are tabulated for the final team score.

* 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.

* Entomology

Students apply the fundamentals of entomology and develop skills in identifying common insects and their significance to people and agriculture.

* Forestry

Along with identification of both hardwood and pine species, team members evaluate sites for best management practices based on environmental factors, analyze plots for future production, product volume and identify plant species and their effects on timber-forage-wildlife relationships.

* Forage Evaluation

Students apply their knowledge of various forage species to evaluate hay based on physical properties, identify species common to pastures and complete quiz that tests team members’ knowledge of different aspects of forages. Teams consist of 3 or 4 members.

* Horse Evaluation

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.

* Marketing Plan

A team of three members apply practical skills in the marketing process by developing and presenting a marketing plan. The plan promotes a current or proposed agricultural product, supply or service. In competition, the team presents its plan and answers judges’ questions.

* Range and Pasture Judging

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.