Montana FFA Career Development Events

What Career Development Events Are

Career Development Events, or CDEs, are the skills contests of Montana FFA. Students judge livestock, identify trees, grade meat, diagnose problems and make sales pitches against teams from across the state. The Montana Career and Leadership Development Event Handbook (2022-2027) says state contests follow the national guidelines where possible, with local changes listed in its event-specific section. According to the Montana FFA convention page, the 2025 state convention in Bozeman hosted 23 career development events, and winning teams earn the chance to compete at the National FFA Convention.

The Events

The handbook's at-a-glance chart lists these CDEs:

• Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Sales and Agronomy
• Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems (outdoor, with welding in the mix)
• Agri-Science Fair
• Environmental and Natural Resources and Forestry
• Farm and Agribusiness Management
• Floriculture and Food Science
• Horse Judging, Livestock Evaluation, Meats Evaluation and Technology, and Poultry
• Marketing Plan (three participants)
• Veterinary Science

Most CDEs use teams of four whose four scores count. The sweepstakes events, which feed the team and individual sweepstakes awards, are Agricultural Sales, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Agronomy, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Floriculture, Food Science, Horse Judging, Livestock Evaluation, Meats Evaluation and Technology, and Veterinary Science.

Who Can Compete

• Membership. Participants must be active members in good standing with the chapter, state and national associations, in grades 7-12 and enrolled in Agricultural Education.
• Chapter paperwork. If a chapter's initial membership roster, Program of Activities, Economic Impact Report to OPI or annual report has not reached the state office, all its members are ineligible above the chapter level until it does.
• District qualifying. Chapters must have competed in a district CDE or designated event to compete in a judging event at state convention. Typically the top half of teams advance, and a chapter is also eligible if an individual places in the top three at district.
• Team integrity. It is prohibited to register members under another chapter's name to build a full team, and doing so results in disqualification.
• Chaperones. FFA members must be accompanied by a school district-approved chaperone at all events.

Montana Twists on National Rules

The handbook lists local changes that students should know before they practice:

• Livestock Evaluation. Eight judging classes, three reasons classes, possibly a keep/cull class and no written test.
• Agronomy. A 50-question multiple-choice exam and a 30-minute team plan based on a scenario from a Montana cropping region, with no Agronomy Issues Discussion.
• Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems. A metals and welding area replaces environmental and natural resources, skill rotations run 15 minutes and the exam has 50 questions.
• Meats Evaluation. Students calculate quality and yield grades from given data instead of actual carcasses.
• Forestry. The Montana Tree ID list, no team problem and up to four practicums.
• Veterinary Science. A written team problem and three of each practicum rather than five.
• Horse Judging. A written team problem and a Montana Tack and ID list posted to MAGNET.

Any other changes are posted to MAGNET by the event coordinator at least 45 calendar days before the event.

2026-27 Dates

The Montana Ag-Ed and FFA calendar for 2026-27 lists practice and qualifying opportunities as well as state events:

• NILE livestock, sales and vet contests, October 12 in Billings, and NILE horse and meats contests, October 13.
• Montana FFA Ag Expo, November 12-14 in Bozeman, with registration due November 1.
• Big Timber Invitational CDE Showdown, December 7.
• KMON (meats, poultry, sales, agronomy), January 19-20 at Cascade and Great Falls.
• Cowtown CDE Invitational, February 4-5 in Miles City.
• State FFA Convention, March 22-26, 2027 in Great Falls. Registration opens February 21 and closes March 9 on Judging Card.
• CDE bids due July 15, and State Fair CDEs in August in Great Falls.

Dates can change, so confirm with your advisor and the current calendar.

Registration

Pre-registration is required for national-qualifying state events. Chapters register at judgingcard.com. According to the handbook, registration opens 30 days before the event and closes 14 days before. Advisors must confirm the accuracy of their registration within five business days of the close, and chapters with unpaid Association or Foundation fees are not eligible.

Contest-Day Rules

• Bring your own pencils, erasers, clipboards and calculators unless told otherwise.
• Cell phones, smart watches and other devices are not allowed in the contest area unless the event coordinator approves them. Possession can mean disqualification.
• Advisors and coaches may not be in the contest or scoring area after the contest starts unless facilitating the event.
• Scantrons completed incorrectly are not scored, so shade the participant number carefully.

Awards and Appeals

The top 10 individuals and five teams at each state CDE are announced at the awards session during state convention. The top three teams receive plaques and the top three individuals get gold, silver and bronze pins. Team and individual sweepstakes recognize the top four. Results post on MAGNET or Judging Card on the first business day after the event, and written appeals are open for seven calendar days with a $50 fee, refunded if the appeal is justified.

Winning teams are asked to confirm their intent to compete nationally by July 1. In any team event, only one member can be replaced, and an individual can compete in a given national CDE only once.

Practical Tips

• Ask your advisor which district event counts as your qualifier before the school year starts.
• Use the invitational contests to practice real contest procedures.
• Read the 45-day notice posted to MAGNET for your event.
• Do not enter without a chaperone and your registration confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.