HILLSDALE — For students who ask their teachers “When will I ever use this in the real world?” Career Development Events (CDEs) are the answer.
FFA has worked to create CDEs that demonstrate the meaningful connections between classroom instruction and real-life scenarios.
CDEs build on what is learned in agricultural classes and the FFA. The events are designed to help prepare students for careers in agriculture. Classroom instruction comes alive as students demonstrate their skills in a competitive setting. The Hillsdale FFA members recently competed in the Spring CDEs.
Below are CDE results from this year’s State Competition.
Dairy Cattle
The Dairy Cattle CDE is an educational activity designed as a practical method of teaching students to select quality dairy cattle. Students will be challenged with pedigree evaluation, sire selection, linear evaluation, a written test, placing classes and written class reasons.
The Hillsdale FFA team placed 20th in the State Contest. The individuals who participated in the contest were Emily McGovern who placed 7th individually, Riley Twining 96th, Rosalynne Weekley 145th, Jax Rogers 194th, Cassian Filbrun 215th, and Madison Taylor 264th.
Emily McGovern will compete at the State Dairy Cattle finals on April 29 in Columbus to determine her final placing.
Wildlife Management
To stimulate interest and to promote instruction in the areas of fish and wildlife management, as well as to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of natural resources instruction.
The Hillsdale FFA team placed 18th in the State Contest. The individuals who participated in the contest were Braydon Rakovec who placed 52th individually, Ty Lantz 69th, Bo Moody 113th, and Gage Madsen 123rd.
Equine Management
The Equine Management CDE is an educational activity designed as a practical method of teaching students current horse evaluation and selection techniques in addition to developing management skills necessary for success in the equine industry. The Hillsdale FFA team placed 6th in the State Contest.
The individuals who participated in the contest were Madison Mast who placed 5th individually, Timer Banks 57th, Chloe Crowe 91st, Taylor Rafeld 99th, and Cassidy Sinnett 133rd. The Equine team will be competing in the State Finals on April 29th in Columbus to determine their final placing.
General Livestock
The General Livestock CDE is an educational program designed as a practical method of teaching students to recognize quality production animals.
The skills students learn in evaluating general livestock should make them better livestock producers and consumers by providing hands-on, practical experience in identifying and understanding characteristics that affect production and quality.
The Hillsdale FFA team placed 47th in the State Contest. The individuals who participated in the contest were Dally Meek who placed 155th individually, Baylee Weber 176th, Haleigh Stephens 303rd, Owen Hoffman 517th, and Peighton Thomas 826th.
Agronomy: The agronomy career development event is designed to assess the student’s knowledge of agronomic practices for the production of field and forage crops. A practical examination requires the student to identify specimens of crop and weed plants and seeds, diseases, and insects or their damage.
An individual written test covers the use of soil test analysis and County Soil Surveys, current agronomic practices, and fertilizer, pesticide or sprayer calibration problems and their solution. A team evaluation will consist of an applied field management problem. The Hillsdale FFA team placed 2nd in the State Contest.
The individuals who participated in the contest were Hudson Heller who placed 3rd individually, Braydon Rakovec 6th, Logan Garn 14th, Gage Madsen 15th, Dylan Fickes 25th, and Riley Twining 27th. The Agronomy team will compete at the Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts in September.
Milk Quality and Products: Participants in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event (CDE) demonstrate their knowledge about the quality production, processing, distribution, promotion and marketing of milk and dairy foods. The Hillsdale FFA team placed 14th in the State Contest.
The individuals who participated in the contest were Keira Filius who placed 53rd individually, Ethan Goodwin 56th, Olivia Burgess 57th, and Jillian Hazen 77th.
Poultry Management
The Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event encourages learning through activities relative to production and management, processing, marketing and food safety and quality of poultry and poultry products. The Hillsdale FFA team placed 15th in the State Contest. The individuals who participates in the contest are Brody Schoen who placed 19th individually, Mark Abel 71st, Gabriel Murawski 108th, Lily Nethero 130th, and Ava Bolen 175th.
