State winning teams in the FFA Career and Leadership Development Events (CDE/LDE) earn a berth in the national competition. Through Career and Leadership Development Events, participating FFA members in grades 9 to 12 are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement. CDE and LDE events occur at the local, state and national levels.
Participants in the Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event (LDE) research the pros and cons of an agricultural issue and present their findings to a panel of judges.
This team LDE challenges students to investigate a variety of current local, state, national and international issues facing agriculture through classroom instruction. Students then demonstrate through portfolio, presentation and questioning an understanding of the principles and fundamentals of agricultural issue analysis.
Communication, leadership and teamwork skills are critical to event success. This event connects agriculture students with professionals in the industry as they research, present and then understand complicated issues facing the agricultural landscape – making it especially attractive to students with an interest in agricultural policy, law and international relations.
Left to right: Linda Petersen, McKenna Sichmeller, Grace Harden, Wilson Droge, Josslin Jarding, Jude Jarding, Maia Kennedy, and Keighlor Nolz
West Central’s Agricultural Issues Team took on the topic of Honey Fraud and consists of Josslin Jarding, McKenna Sichmeller, Wilson Droge, Grace Harden, Jude Jarding, Keighlor Nolz, and Maia Kennedy. The team won their state level event in December. The national event will be held face-to-face during the 95th National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis in late October.
The National FFA Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event (CDE) is a competitive event in which FFA members test their knowledge and skills in nursery practices and landscaping. Participants must complete a general knowledge exam testing horticultural principles including plant anatomy, production, marketing, turf, landscape design and maintenance. Each participant must also complete practicums involving a landscape estimating, plant propagation or potting, identification of plants, disorders and equipment. Each team competed on local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
Left to right: Linda Petersen, Andrew Rick Jack Linneman, Bennett Sebert, Connor Siemonsma
West Central FFA members Andrew Rick, Jack Linneman, Bennett Sebert, and Connor Siemonsma won the state level contest in April. This event will be in a Hybrid format with written exams, written customer assistance, and identification practicum events taking place in early-October. All teams will advance to face-to-face competition during the National FFA Convention in October in Indianapolis, IN.
