For many FFA members, career and leadership development events (CDEs and LDEs) are more than just competitions — they are opportunities to sharpen their skills, build confidence, and prepare for future careers. 

From Livestock Judging to Agricultural Sales, these events challenge students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios while developing leadership and communication abilities.

One such member, Ella Duenke, a senior and four-year FFA member, has dedicated countless hours to competing in Meats Evaluation and Parliamentary Procedure. 

“I have learned a lot from the different CDE and LDE Teams I have participated on,” she said. “My favorites include parliamentary procedure because it is a team activity involving public speaking and debating my teammates. I also really like the Meats Contest, I am able to learn more about where cuts of meat come from and their quality characteristics. This directly relates to my Beef Production SAE, too.”

Ella’s Meats Evaluation team has spent weeks studying different cuts of beef, pork and lamb, identifying quality grades and understanding food safety regulations. Competitions required them to judge classes of beef and pork, grade carcasses and identify over 120 retail cuts found in a grocery store. 

“This CDE gives students skills not only to possibly enter a career in the meat science industry, but knowledge to select high quality products for their family at the grocery store,” said R-VI FFA adviser Stacy French.

FFA members also develop strong leadership skills through LDEs like Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter Meetings. These events require teams to demonstrate proper meeting conduct using Robert’s Rules of Order. Competitors must present motions, debate topics effectively and handle real-world meeting scenarios — all within a timed setting. “Parli Pro,” as it's commonly called, pushes students to think quickly and communicate clearly.

For students like Lane Carter, competing in livestock judging was a natural choice. Growing up on a cattle farm, he had experience evaluating animals for breed characteristics, structural correctness and market readiness. 

“Livestock Evaluation is related to my SAE of auctioneering for livestock sales,” he said.  “Knowing what to look for in different species lets me be a more successful auctioneer, too.”

While technical knowledge is key in CDEs, events like Agricultural Sales require members to hone their interpersonal and marketing skills. Participants role-play as agricultural sales representatives, presenting a product to potential customers, answering questions and overcoming objections. Senior Clayton Jennings has been working on Agricultural Sales. 

“My future plans are to go into sports journalism in the future,” he said. “Being able to walk into an office and sit down one-on-one with a judge and make a sales presentation is helping me develop skills I will need in the future by learning how to ask good questions and work with other people.”

Floriculture is another event that blends industry knowledge with hands-on experience. Teams must identify flowers and plants, identify disorders and how to correct, identify common greenhouse and floral design tools, and have an understanding of business operations and practices. Freshman Sophia Fennewald has been working hard over the past two months to learn all she can and be successful in the Floriculture CDE area.

Across all these events, one common theme emerges: FFA members are gaining skills that will serve them well beyond high school. Whether they plan to enter the agriculture industry, business world or public service, CDEs and LDEs provide valuable experiences that shape their futures.

As Clayton Jennings puts it, “CDEs and LDEs make you learn how to study and work towards achieving high goals with others in your chapter. They are teaching us all skills we will use in our futures.”

Lydia Holt is a sophomore at Community R-VI.