EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was authored by Plymouth FFA Reporter Nicole Beverage.
PLYMOUTH — Through Career Development Events (CDEs) FFA members learn teamwork, critical thinking skills, and decision making skills.
They also learn to value the importance of ethical competition and individual goals and achievements.
CDEs give FFA members the opportunity to develop skills they will need in their future careers from time management to organization and industry specific knowledge. CDEs occur at local, district, state, and national levels.
Upcoming CDEs that Plymouth FFA members will be participating in are: Ag Mechanics, Poultry, Nature/Wildlife, Livestock, Farm Business management, Public Speaking, and Dog Grooming. Students meet at least once a week to practice for their competitions.
Students are provided with many resources and alumni assist students in learning the skills and knowledge required for their specific CDE.
FFA members must strive to reach their full potential as they compete against other FFA members and chapters in the state of Ohio.
Students participating this spring and their coaches include:
Ag Mechanics: Lily Weaver, Anthony Moore, Kamryn Hall, Isaiah Miller, Dillan Myers, Hunter Shepherd.
Poultry: Braden Montgomery, Madison Montgomery, Chiyo Harris, Katelyn Swingle, Kristen Swingle, Ava Stine, Matthew Gillum.
Nature/Wildlife: Ki Barber, Bri Flanagan, Gabe Hinkle, Kansas Huston.
Middle School Nature/Wildlife: Makayla Ashby, Gwen Cave.
Livestock: Aaliyah Grose, Addison Slone, Kendall Oakley, Morgan Follett, Rylee Gowitzka, Nicole Beverage, Taylor Dean, Kelsey Surgener, Alyson Lewis.
Middle School Livestock: Kensley Burrer, Sienna Kennison, Erika Montry, Makayla Bowman, Anna Caughenbaugh.
Farm Business Management: Lincoln Distl, Braden Montgomery.
Public Speaking: Jay Scott, Colton Hass, Armando Flores, Anna Caughenbaugh.
Dog Grooming: Kyrsten Caudill, Addison Slone, Olivia Balkin, Camryn Wallace.
Ag Mechanics: Teams in this event consist of four students that solve a multi-system agricultural problem scenario. The team works to solve the problem and prepare a report while judges evaluate.
Additionally, individuals complete a written exam that covers five agricultural technology and mechanical areas: compact equipment, electricity, environment and natural resources, machinery and equipment and structures. Thank you Nick Laferty and Leonard Felty for helping to coach this CDE.
Poultry Judging: Participants in this CDE select live meat-type chickens for broiler breeding, evaluate and place live egg-type hens, and rate the finished product by evaluating and grading ready-to-cook carcasses and parts of chickens and turkeys. Thank you Sarah Hoak, Rosie Reer, and Douglas Reer for coaching this CDE.
Nature/Wildlife: This contest creates a fun and competitive environment to learn management & conservation of natural resources for wildlife habitat, knowledge of and respect for laws related to hunting and other outdoor recreational activities, and safety.
Livestock Judging:Students participating in this CDE make accurate and logical observations of livestock, decide on the desirable traits in marketing and breeding livestock, and select and market livestock that will satisfy consumer demands and provide increased economic returns to producers. Thank you to Monica Baxter, Jenny Beverage and Paula Seaman for coaching this CDE.
Farm Business Management: This team CDE requires four members to collaborate through decision-making and problem analysis skills to reach a final written or oral report. Additionally, each team participant completes an individual written activity.
Public Speaking: Students research a topic of interest and then put together a creative, informative speech. The speech is then presented to a panel of judges, who score the student based on the speech’s content, composition and delivery.
Dog Grooming: Students learn proper tool and equipment identification and how to do the proper AKC cut for their breed of dog. Thank you to Megan Caudill for coaching this CDE.
Learn more about Ohio FFA Career Development Event opportunities here: https://ohioffa.org/cde/
