What Nebraska FFA Career Development Events Are
Career Development Events (CDEs) are team contests that turn classroom agriculture into hands-on skills, from judging livestock to identifying plants to welding. In Nebraska they are run by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's agricultural education program, and the Nebraska CDE site says the state offers 25 CDEs covering agriculture, food and natural resources. State finals are held alongside the Nebraska FFA Convention in Lincoln.
State CDE Dates and Locations
The CDE site gives these state dates: March 25-27, 2026; March 31-April 2, 2027; April 5-7, 2028; and April 4-6, 2029. Events are spread across several Lincoln locations. According to the 2026 convention schedule, most contests were on UNL East Campus (the Nebraska East Union, Animal Science Complex, Keim Hall and Filley Hall), with others at the Sandhills Global Event Center, Southeast Community College (welding) and the Food Innovation Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus. The CDE awards ceremony was held Friday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Many large events run in rotations by district. In 2026, for example, Livestock Management ran in four district blocks on Thursday, Poultry Evaluation ran in three blocks on Friday, and Livestock Evaluation Senior ran from early Friday morning into Saturday afternoon.
Who Can Compete
The general rules and eligibility page sets these basics:
- Course enrollment. A student must be enrolled in at least one semester of an agricultural education course during the current school year, taught by a Nebraska certified or endorsed ag teacher (or approved by Nebraska Department of Education state staff).
- FFA membership. The state does not require it to compete, though your local instructor may.
- Four-year limit. A student may compete in a given CDE for up to four years, unless they were on a state-winning team in that CDE or took part in the National FFA CDE.
- Graduating seniors. Seniors remain eligible for state CDEs up to and including their first national convention after graduation.
- School requirement. Only schools with a complete agricultural education program, meaning an FFA chapter in good standing, may enter district and state CDEs.
- One team per school. Each school enters one team per state CDE unless that event's rules say otherwise. Teachers may choose different students for state than those who qualified at district.
Rule violations can cost a team all its awards and honors. If a student needs an exception, teachers should contact the CDE coordinator before the registration deadline. The page lists Dr. Matt Kreifels at 402.472.2815 for that purpose, and an exception application process exists.
The Events: Team Size and How Teams Qualify
Teachers register students and teams themselves by the deadline posted on the CDE website; that information is not sent to the state. District qualification varies by event. Here is the state table in plain form.
Open enrollment events
- Agriscience - 4 students, grades 9-10 (first-year ag students).
- Ag Communications - 4 students; an online pre-qualifier is held in February and the top 10 advance.
- Ag Issues Forum - 3 to 7 students.
- Marketing Plan - 3 students; a complete written plan is required and selected teams present.
Qualify by percentage of district schools
- Agronomy, Ag Technology and Mechanics, Floriculture, Meats Evaluation and Technology - top 25 percent of district schools.
- Environmental and Natural Resources - top 33 percent.
- Livestock Evaluation Junior (grades 9-10) and Livestock Management (5 to 6 students) - top 20 percent.
- Livestock Evaluation Senior - top 30 percent.
When a percentage decides qualifiers, the number of teams always rounds up. The page's example: 17 schools at 25 percent sends five teams.
Qualify by number of teams per district
- Top 2: Ag Biotechnology, Forestry, Poultry Evaluation.
- Top 3: Ag Sales, Food Science and Technology, Veterinary Science.
- Top 4: Nursery and Landscape.
- Top 5: Farm and Agribusiness Management, Welding (roles are SMAW, MIG, OFW and GTAW).
Most events field four students and are open to grades 9-12. Per the state table, Agriscience, Ag Biotechnology, Livestock Evaluation Junior, Livestock Management and Welding do not qualify teams for a national event; the others do.
Western National Roundup
Nebraska's runner-up teams in Livestock Evaluation Senior and Meats Evaluation and Technology may attend the Western National Roundup. The third-place team may go if the runner-up cannot.
Awards
- Plaques and medals go to the top three teams in each event.
- Medals go to the top three individuals in each event.
- Ribbons go to the top half of teams and students, roughly 10 percent purple, 15 percent blue, 15 percent red and 10 percent white.
Preparing Your Team
- Ask your ag teacher which CDEs your chapter will enter and when district contests are held.
- Check the event's current rules on the CDE rules page and the National FFA CDE Handbook at ffa.org.
- Practice with past contests; UNL posts event documents such as the 2024 floriculture contest.
- Plan travel early for events that run at 6:00 am or span two days, such as Livestock Evaluation Senior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an FFA member to compete?
The state does not require it, but your local instructor may. You do need to be enrolled in an ag education course that school year.
Can my school send more than one team?
Generally one team per state CDE unless the individual event rules say otherwise.
How many years can I compete in the same CDE?
Up to four, unless you were on a state-winning team in that CDE or competed in the national CDE.
Where do I register?
Your teacher registers the team using the deadline posted on the CDE website. Students do not register individually.
When is the next state CDE?
March 31-April 2, 2027, in Lincoln, per the CDE site.
Nebraska Listings Covered by This Guide
- Nebraska FFA Career Development Events State Finals
State finals for 25 FFA career development events, run alongside the state convention at UNL East Campus and Southeast Community College in Lincoln. The next dates posted are March 31 to April 2, 2027.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.