CDE & LDE
What are CDEs and LDEs?
CDE stands for Career Development Event and LDE stands for Leadership Development Event. These are competitive opportunities to exhibit technical and transferrable skills that you learn in class and at practices.
Through Career and Leadership Development Events, participating FFA members 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 district, state, and national levels.
American Falls remains a competitive chapter at the district, state, and national levels in CDEs and LDEs. Check out each event below for more information or contact an advisor!
How do I join?
Any member is welcome to join any event that they are interested in. The advisors and other members will recruit for events during class or at other FFA events. Please fill out the form if you are interested. All interested students will be contacted prior to the first practice. There are sign-up spots in all advisor rooms. During the first practice, a CDE/LDE Contract will be passed out. The contract is a commitment to the team. Practices will be planned outside of students' other commitments to ensure active participation.
Events at State Leadership Conference
College of Southern Idaho Campus (Twin Falls) in April
Practices start in November at the latest, unless a full team wants to start sooner.
Agricultural Issues Forum LDE
Participants research the pros and cons of an agricultural issue and present their findings to a panel of judges.
# of Members: 7 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia
Agricultural Sales CDE
Students work as a team to collaboratively build a sales plan and demonstrate skills in customer relations.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Jefferies
Conduct of Chapter Meetings LDE
FFA members in Grades 7-9 are introduced to parliamentary procedure and effective meetings.
# of Members: 7 freshman per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
English Creed Speaking CDE
FFA members recite the National FFA Creed in either English to develop public speaking skills and self-confidence.
# of Members: Individual event
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia & Ms. Stroebel
Spanish Creed Speaking CDE
FFA members recite the National FFA Creed in Spanish to develop public speaking skills and self-confidence.
# of Members: Individual event
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Employment Skills LDE
Participants get a leg up on their future careers by developing the skills needed to seek employment in the agriculture industry.
# of Members: Individual event
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia
Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE
Students showcase their agricultural knowledge and ability to think on their feet in front of a panel of judges.
# of Members: Individual event
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia & Ms. Stroebel
Farm Business Management CDE
Students learn business skills and apply economic principles to agricultural businesses.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Floriculture CDE
Students identify plants, judge flower arrangements and solve problems using skills important to horticulture and floral careers.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Horse Evaluation CDE
Students who participate in the National FFA Horse Evaluation CDE gain new insights into equine science.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Dr. Nicole Latsch & Mr. Kindall
Parliamentary Procedure LDE
Teams conduct a mock chapter meeting to demonstrate their knowledge of basic parliamentary law and the correct use of parliamentary procedures.
# of Members: 6 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia & Ms. Stroebel
Poultry Evaluation CDE
The Poultry Evaluation CDE test students’ skills in the production, processing, and marketing of chickens, turkeys, processed poultry products and eggs.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Prepared Public Speaking LDE
During the Prepared Public Speaking LDE, students present a speech on an agriculture-related topic.
# of Members: Individual event
Head Coach: Varies on Speech Topic
Events at State CDEs
University of Idaho Campus (Moscow) in June
Practices start in February at the latest, unless a full team wants to start sooner.
Agricultural Communications CDE
Students interested in journalism, broadcasting, web design and more learn to communicate effectively while advocating for agriculture.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia
Agricultural Mechanics CDE
Students develop technical knowledge and an ability to work with others to solve complex agricultural problems.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Jefferies & Mr. Kindall
Agronomy CDE
Students understand and demonstrate the many ways that science and technology collaborate to grow the world's major food crops.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management CDE
Students develop skills important to dairy cattle selection and herd management via this team-based event.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Entomology CDE
Students develop the fundamentals of entomology and develop skills in identification of common insects.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Environmental & Natural Resources CDE
Provides competing students an opportunity to gain awareness and demonstrate knowledge in areas that affect our air, soil and water.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Food Science & Technology CDE
Students display an in-depth understanding of food product development, food presentation and food safety issues.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Forestry CDE
Students demonstrate their skills in diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory and applying approved silviculture practices.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Jefferies
Livestock Evaluation CDE
Participants in the Livestock Evaluation CDE cooperatively classify livestock as “keep” or “cull” for market and breeding purposes.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Marketing Plan CDE
Participants in the Marketing Plan CDE present a marketing plan for an agricultural product, supply or service.
# of Members: 3 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Beitia
Meats Evaluation & Technology CDE
In the Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE, students develop the skills needed for careers in the meat animal industry.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Milk Quality & Products CDE
Participants demonstrate their knowledge about the quality production, processing, distribution, promotion and marketing of milk and dairy foods.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Nursery/Landscape CDE
The Nursery⁄Landscape CDE tests students skills in horticultural principles, from landscape design to nursery propagation.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Veterinary Science CDE
Participants develop technical knowledge and demonstrate practical skills in the field of veterinary science.
# of Members: 4 per team
Head Coach: Ms. Stroebel
Fall State Events
Location varies by event.
Teams are identified before school is out in the spring, practices start during the summer the week after the Power County Fair.
Rangeland Assessment CDE
Participants analyze rangeland characteristics and evaluate management methods, as well as identify grasses, forbs, and woody plant species.
2023 State: Shoshone
# of Members: 5 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall
Soil & Land Evaluation CDE
Participants recognize soil factors and characteristics that affect agricultural production and suitability for selecting a home site.
2023 State: Burley
# of Members: 5 per team
Head Coach: Mr. Kindall