Career Development Events
Career opportunities are limitless within today’s agriculture industry. Career Development Events (CDEs) help students develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive job market. There are over 25 CDEs, covering job skills in everything from communications to mechanics. Some events allow students to compete as individuals, while others require them to compete in teams. CDE members get to travel to different colleges to compete throughout the year, mostly in the spring. Being on a CDE team takes great commitment and dedication.
Public Speaking Contests
FFA members have the opportunity to let their voice be heard! Whether it's memorizing the Creed or Opening & Closing, or speaking on behalf of an agriculture issue, there is room to grow and find your confidence when speaking to a group. We begin in November with our Sectional Opening and Closing Competition, then compete in the Sectional Speaking Contest in February. Should you place in the top two at the Sectional Speaking Contest, students can move through the Regional and State competitions too (in March and April)!
Opening/Closing Ceremonies Recitation:
Available to all members. Officer Team, and a maximum of two advanced and two novice teams.
The purpose of the Opening/Closing Ceremonies Recitation 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 inter-personal skill attainment and leadership development by memorizing and reciting their part in the FFA Opening/Closing Ceremonies.
Creed Recitation:
Available to Freshman only.
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 9th grade FFA members as well as develop their self confidence and contribute to their advancement in the FFA degree program.
Best Informed Greenhand (BIG):
Available to Freshman only.
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.
Prepared Public Speaking:
Available to all members.
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 inter-personal skill attainment and leadership development by writing their own speech on a current Agriculture issue/event.
Extemporaneous Public Speaking:
Available to all members.
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:
Available to all members.
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 inter-personal 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.
Job Interview:
Available to all members.
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.
Available to all members. Officer Team, and a maximum of two advanced and two novice teams.
The purpose of the Opening/Closing Ceremonies Recitation 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 inter-personal skill attainment and leadership development by memorizing and reciting their part in the FFA Opening/Closing Ceremonies.
Creed Recitation:
Available to Freshman only.
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 9th grade FFA members as well as develop their self confidence and contribute to their advancement in the FFA degree program.
Best Informed Greenhand (BIG):
Available to Freshman only.
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.
Prepared Public Speaking:
Available to all members.
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 inter-personal skill attainment and leadership development by writing their own speech on a current Agriculture issue/event.
Extemporaneous Public Speaking:
Available to all members.
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:
Available to all members.
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 inter-personal 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.
Job Interview:
Available to all members.
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.