CDE Team Summary

Career Development Events build on what is learned in agricultural classes and encourage members to put their knowledge into practice. These events are designed to help a member prepare for a career in agriculture by testing and challenging the student's technical, leadership, interpersonal and teamwork skills as well as their knowledge of the subject matter. CDEs answer the question, "When will I use this knowledge in the real world?"

Ag Mech - 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.

Environmental & Natural Resources - Environmental and natural resource education has a responsibility to ensure an educated public and provide students prepared to enter careers in environmental and natural resource industry. The purpose of the environmental and natural resource career development event is to stimulate student interest and to promote environmental and natural resource instruction in the agriculture food and natural resource curriculum and to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of environmental and natural resource instruction.

Farm Business Management - This event is to foster information assimilation, critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to successfully manage an agricultural production unit, agri-business or in any business that uses generally accepted accounting principles and business management knowledge and skills. Information, concepts and skills applied in this event may also be foundational knowledge to be used in the study of agricultural economics, business or accounting at a college or university

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.

Homesite - It has long been said that soil is our most basic natural resource. Not only agriculture, but also life on earth is dependent upon the wise use of soil. The Home Site Evaluation Career Development Event introduces students to nonagronomic use of land including, but not limited to, the suitability of various types of land for building sites, home sanitation systems, impoundment structures, lawns and other construction considerations. 

Horse - 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.

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.

Milk Quality - 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

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.  

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.

Vet 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.

Wildlife - 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.