North Dakota FFA Career Development Events

What Career Development Events Are

Career Development Events, or CDEs, are the contest side of North Dakota FFA. Students test real agriculture skills such as judging livestock, identifying crops, selling a product or diagnosing a machinery problem. The state policy guide, the ND FFA policies and procedures for CDEs, LDEs and activities (August 2026 edition), says events are meant to complement classroom instruction. Its CDE list covers:

• Advanced and Basic Tractor Driving (at the North Dakota State Fair)
• Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Sales and Agronomy
• Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Agriscience Fair
• Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management, and Milk Quality and Products
• Environmental and Natural Resources
• Farm and Agribusiness Management
• Floriculture, Nursery/Landscape and Food Science and Technology
• Horse Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation, and Meats Evaluation and Technology
• Land Judging and Range Judging
• Quiz and Greenhand Quiz
• Small Animal Care (called Veterinary Science at the national level)

Who Can Compete

The same policy guide sets the eligibility rules.

• Enrollment. Members must be enrolled in an agricultural education course with a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program, or follow a planned course of study that includes one. Home-schooled students and students in schools without an ag program, or taking interactive TV or Division of Independent Study courses, may take part if they meet the course and SAE requirements.
• Standing. Members must have dues paid, follow the FFA Code of Ethics and have school administration approval for activities above the local level.
• Grades. 5th and 6th graders may not attend district or state events.
• Chapter paperwork. The membership roster is due January 15 or the chapter is suspended from state participation. The Program of Activities is due in AET by November 1, and chapters with accounts more than 90 days past due are not eligible.
• Waiver. The Student Permission Waiver Form is due October 15 or before the student's first event, whichever is earlier.
• Graduates. Graduating seniors may not enter a new CDE or LDE after August 31 following graduation.

Using an ineligible member forfeits that individual's or team's awards, so check rosters before you register.

Team Sizes

For state teams going on to nationals, the guide sets four members for these CDEs: Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Sales, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Agronomy, Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management, Environmental and Natural Resources, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Floriculture, Food Science and Technology, Horse Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation, Milk Quality and Products, Meats Evaluation and Technology, Nursery and Landscape, and Small Animal Care. Land Judging, Range Judging and Quiz teams have up to four members. Team members must come from the same chapter, and if the top team cannot attend, the second-place team may go.

Winter CDEs in Minot

The winter contests are Agricultural Sales, Agronomy and Livestock Evaluation. The 2026-27 ND FFA calendar lists the next one for March 22, 2027 in Minot, with registration due March 19, 2027 by noon Central. The 2026 event, held March 23 at the North Dakota State Fair Center, worked like this according to the Winter CDE page:

• Chapters arrived between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Contests started at 8:30, with judge meetings at 8:00.
• Official livestock reasons were at 1:00 p.m., advisor result verification at 2:00, awards at 2:45 and departure at 3:45.
• Registration is on Judgingcard.com. Students must be on the current chapter roster and have an emergency medical waiver uploaded in AET before registration.
• Chapters could register three alternates per CDE. Alternates cannot compete unless they substitute for a member, and the state office must be told of substitutions.
• Complete FFA official dress is required and hats are not allowed. The event is not open to the public and is not live streamed.
• Results are not mailed, so students who leave early must arrange for another chapter to collect awards.
• Bring a pencil and clipboard. Agronomy contestants also need a calculator, and Ag Sales contestants need an individual sales sheet.

Other Single-Day CDEs

The 2026-27 calendar also lists State Land Judging on July 30, 2026 in Killdeer (registration due July 27), the State Tractor Operator Event on July 17, 2026 (registration due July 13), State Range Judging on September 17, 2026 in Carrington (registration due September 14), and Horse Evaluation on May 4, 2027 at the Twin Buttes Fairgrounds (registration due April 27). Most state registrations are due two to three weeks before the event, and the calendar says dates are subject to change.

State Convention CDEs

The ND FFA State Convention page says the 97th annual convention is June 7-10, 2027 on the NDSU campus in Fargo. More than 1,300 members, advisors, judges, sponsors and presenters attend, and students can compete in over 30 award, degree and CDE events. Contests listed include Agriscience Fair, Agricultural Communications, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Ag Mech, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Environmental and Natural Resources, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Floriculture, Food Science and Technology, Meats Evaluation and Technology, Milk Quality and Products, Nursery/Landscape and Small Animal Care. CDE registration is due May 22, and Agriscience Fair registration is due May 5. Winning CDE teams receive travel stipends to the National FFA Convention from the ND FFA Foundation.

Awards

At state events, the top 20 percent receive gold, the next 25 percent silver and the next 30 percent bronze, though activity chairs may adjust the splits to match natural breaks in the results. The high individual receives a Baby Bison trophy, and ties are not broken. Traveling trophies go to the winning team or individual, who must return them before the next state event.

Practical Tips

• Upload medical waivers to AET before the registration deadline, not on the morning of the event.
• Register on Judgingcard.com early and name alternates.
• Pack official dress the night before. Leave the hat in the car.
• Check the calendar often, because dates move.

Frequently Asked Questions

CDEs reward preparation. Know your event, your deadlines and your team, and let your advisor handle the paperwork with you.

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