FFA brings agricultural education to life by providing opportunities for members to develop their skills and gain valuable work experience — sometimes through friendly competition.
These four career development events (CDEs) showcase the creative programming offered by states and chapters nationwide. Check with your chapter or state to see what exciting CDE and LDE opportunities await. Access a full list of National FFA CDEs and LDEs here.
Although Athens FFA members Rachel Jelliff and Abram Steinfelt (pictured above) have experience tapping trees and making maple syrup with their families, competing in the Pennsylvania FFA maple syrup CDE took their knowledge to the next level.
The competition is held each year during the Pennsylvania Farm Show. To prepare, Jelliff and Steinfelt learned about the tools used in maple production, received an informational lesson in grading syrup from a local extension agent and spent hours in the kitchen testing products.
Steinfelt credited this intense preparation for his team’s success. “We talked to a lot of maple producers about what they do and how they do it,” he says.
Wagoner FFA member Eli Hopping (center) was nervous when he stepped up to the podium during the Oklahoma FFA state qualifying auctioneering competition. “It was nerve-wracking,” he says.
During the event, FFA members were scored based on several auctioneer qualities — their poise, presence, sound and chant. After applying his skills to sell baskets of preserves and garden items, Hopping placed in the top 10. He’ll compete in the auctioneering CDE finals at the Oklahoma State FFA Convention in May and plans to continue honing his skills this spring.
Hopping’s advisor, Ray Pell, says the auctioneering CDE is an opportunity for FFA members to gain confidence with public speaking and learn about potential careers in the auction industry. “Hopefully members will excel, and it will open doors for them later on,” he adds.
In Washington, Lynden Christian FFA offers a tractor driving CDE to help competitors learn — and apply — basic tractor maneuvers. Other aspects of the competition include “identifying parts, which helps [members] locate problems and solve them when there is an issue with equipment,” says Jill Kocourek, Lynden Christian FFA advisor.
FFA members competed at the Grant County Fairgrounds in November 2023. The competition included an exam to test their knowledge of tractor safety and operation, team problem solving activities and an obstacle course.
Lynden Christian FFA member Benjamin Wiersma (pictured above) earned third place overall. “I practiced a lot and had great coaches and encouraging parents,” he says. “I also studied the tests and came prepared.”
Ayden Howard, a California FFA member, thought the Missouri FFA swine management CDE would help him explore different careers in agriculture. “When it comes to FFA I like to try everything,” he says. “That’s mainly because I haven’t decided what career I want to go into.”
The competition, held at the University of Missouri, tested FFA members’ understanding of various aspects of swine production, including feed, water, air quality and facility management. Howard earned first place in the competition.
“This is a good skill set to show interested students what opportunities are out there,” adds California FFA advisor Gary Reichel. “They’re able to learn the evaluation of facilities and how they’re to be managed with successful biosecurity and management plans.”
