Mount Pleasant FFA members have competed in six Career Development Event (CDE) Competitions over the past three weeks. FFA Career Development Events (CDEs), commonly called judging contests, 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?”

Many CDEs are qualifying events for the National and State FFA CDE competition and/or offer scholarship opportunities. Mount Pleasant FFA members are actively participating in the following CDE events:

Poultry Evaluation which engages students to learn to effectively make comparative observations, generalizations to the poultry industry, draw conclusions and make decisions. Students must apply USDA standards and make qualitative judgments concerning eggs, live birds, carcasses and further processed poultry products. Students learn foundational knowledge and master basic skills related to the poultry and food industries. Current team members are Samuel Brown, Cheyenne King, Arenia Tigert, and Sara Phillips.

Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event (CDE) which is meant to encourage FFA members to explore the diversity of the “Green Industry,” in terms of plant materials used, basic knowledge, skills, and applications to the workplace through the agricultural education curriculum. The event requires students to identify plant materials and tools common to the industry, demonstrated knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and management practices applied in the industry via a written exam, and make observations, draw conclusions and make decisions in evaluation groups of plants and landscape designs. Current team members are Aidyn Botello, Miguel Martinez, Inacio Hernandez, Adrian Perez, and Anthony Loredo.

Entomology, or insect contest, introduces high school students to the fundamentals of entomology and develops skills in identification of common insects and their relatives using taxonomy and nomenclature used by practitioners in the industry and in the scientific community. Understanding insects and key species is of utmost importance to agricultural crops and animal production, conservation, human and companion animal health and well-being. Current team members are Cynthia Ramirez, Lakyn Fortenberry, Audrie Mendoza, and Hannah Bowles.

Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE) which is meant to stimulate the study of, and interest in, the production and retailing of cut flowers, plants and foliage through the agricultural education curriculum. The event requires students to identify plant materials, tools, and pests common to the industry, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and management practices applied in the industry via a written exam, make observations, draw conclusions, and utilize higher order thinking skills in problem solving situations. Current team members are Kimberly Ramirez, Vicki Olvera, Emily Miklos, and Xitlaly Sanchez.

Land Evaluation which introduces students to factors involved in the stewardship of soil, which include soil texture, permeability, total depth, percent slope, prior erosion loss, and how quickly surface water moves across the landscape. Students use these factors to determine Land Class, and to recommend certain land management and conservation practices to ensure the sustained productivity of agricultural sites. It has been said that the soil is out most basic natural resource. Not only agriculture, but all life on Earth is dependent upon the wise use of soil. Current team members are Juan Zambrano, Karson Brown, and Dustin O’Brien.

Forage Evaluation which has students apply their knowledge of various forage species to evaluate hay based on physical properties, identify species common to pastures and complete a quiz that tests team members’ knowledge of different aspects of forage production and evaluation. The forage event embodies the very basis of real-world application. The students take the information learned and apply it directly to forage production, which is foundational to the state’s highly significant livestock industry. Current team members are Brazos Brown, Codi Dennis, Angel Nava, and Ethan Wilson.

Veterinary Science which is designed to promote career and post-secondary readiness by providing opportunities to develop knowledge and demonstrate skills in the field of 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. Current team members are Chelsea Maldonado, Carlee Cameron, Emma Sellers, and Codi Dennis.

Applied Agricultural Engineering, or welding contest, is a new contest that is designed to promote career and post-secondary readiness by providing opportunities to develop knowledge and demonstrate skills in the field of agricultural engineering. Students are asked to make a specific type of weld, cut metal using an oxygen-fuel system, and read blueprints to create a layout. Current team members are Roberto Organista, David Buendia, Fernando Robles, and Ricardo Barboza.

Mount Pleasant FFA will be traveling all across the state of Texas to several more contests over the next few weeks in preparations for the area and state level contests which will be held in April.