Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP)
Career Development Events (CDE's)
Career Development Events give FFA members a chance to compete against other FFA members from other chapters. CDE's are contests, just with a different name. There are over 25 different CDE's that FFA members can participate in. Some CDE's are made up of teams ranging form four to six students, while others are things that only one person can do alone, like a public speaking contest. One team or person from each chapter is allowed to compete in each CDE. Therefore, if there are a lot of students interested in competing in one CDE then a Chapter runoff may need to be held to determine who will represent the Chapter. For some CDE's like the public speaking contests, safe tractor operation, and parliamentary procedure, a district contest is held so that there are only five teams competing at the state level in Connecticut. Most CDE's go right to a state contest with no district contest. At the state level there can be anywhere from one to over 15 teams to compete against. State level contests are held in the fall at UCONN, others are throughout the winter at various locations, in the spring at UCONN, and at the state convention in June. The state winning team or student for each CDE is then recognized at the state convention and goes on to represent the state at the national convention the following October in Louisville, Kentucky. At the state convention, the winning team or person receives a plaque, and the top three individual finishers in the state receive checks and awards. The first place finisher in the state gets $100, second place $50, and third place $25. For most CDE's, the first place team for the state also participates in a practice regional contest for the national convention at the Eastern States Exposition (a.k.a. The Big E) in September on FFA Day. The contests at the Big E are similar to the national contests.
The Woodbury FFA has a wide variety of people coaching the CDE teams. All of the Agri-science teachers coach one or more teams. Some teams are coached by other staff members at Nonnewaug High School and others are coached by people in the community, former graduates, and even current students.
The Woodbury FFA participates in the 24 CDE's listed below. Nine teams received first place in the State and will be going on to the National Convention in Louisville.
Click on any CDE below to see how that team placed, where and when CDE is held, links to the state and national contests rules, and if applicable, information on the district contest, and pictures from the various contests that team participated in -
PLEASE NOTE - IF ASKED FOR PASSWORD TO SEE STATE RULES CLICK 'CANCEL'
· Ag Sales
· Extemporaneous Public Speaking
· Forestry
· Opening and Closing Ceremonies
