Washington FFA Career Development Events

What Washington FFA Career Development Events Are

Career development events, or CDEs, are contests that test the technical knowledge and skills of a specific agricultural career. The Washington FFA Association's events page says they "build on what is learned in agricultural classes," with some events for individuals and others for teams. It lists 32 CDEs, and the state level has "upward of 30 CDEs/LDEs." Speaking and meeting contests are covered in the companion leadership guide.

The Washington Lineup

The state page lists these CDEs:

• Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Sales, Agricultural Skills
• Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Agricultural Tools and Materials, Agriculture Innovations
• Agronomy, Apple Evaluation, Potato Evaluation, Rangeland Evaluation, Soils and Land Evaluation
• Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management, Horse Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation, Poultry Evaluation
• Milk Quality and Products Evaluation, Meats Evaluation and Technology, Veterinary Science
• Environmental and Natural Resources, Forestry, Nursery/Landscape, Floriculture, Introduction to Horticulture
• Farm and Agribusiness Management, Marketing Plan, Food Science and Technology
• F.A.R.M. for Kids, First-Year Member, Tractor Driving
• Middle school events: MS Environmental and Natural Resources and MS Food Products and Processing

Many of them reflect Washington crops, such as apples, potatoes and rangeland. The page also links per-event handbooks, a sifting policy, a grade level eligibility chart and general rules updated July 2026.

Where and When

The state convention is held in Pullman at Washington State University, according to a Yelm Online report that places it over Mother's Day weekend with students in campus dorms for four days and about 3,500 members attending. A 2018 Ritzville Journal story dates that year's convention May 9 to 12.

Not every CDE happens on the main program. The 2026 Veterinary Science contest was a full-day event on Saturday, April 11, at Sumner High School, per its event page. WSU has also hosted hands-on contests such as milk quality, meats and veterinary skills because a convention center lacks the facilities, per Farm Progress. Check your event page for its date and site.

How Teams Advance

Many students qualify at district contests. In 2018 the Lind-Ritzville Marketing Plan and Food Science teams won districts before competing at state, per the Ritzville Journal. In 2017 a Chelan First Year team earned its state berth with a fifth-place finish at the District VII contest in Pateros, per the Lake Chelan Mirror. Rules vary by event, and the state association's sifting policy and teams-per-chapter table govern.

State winners can go on to nationals. In 2018 the Lind-Ritzville Agronomy team won state and advanced to the National FFA Convention that fall, and a Wenatchee Agricultural Sales and Service team won state out of 36 teams and qualified for nationals, per Wenatchee Schools.

Recent Results

The Washington FFA 95th convention page lists 2025 winners including Cashmere in Food Science and Technology, Milk Quality and Meats Evaluation, Richland in Marketing Plan, Lynden Christian in Farm and Agribusiness Management and Agriculture Innovations, Pullman in Agricultural Communications, White River in F.A.R.M. for Kids and Castle Rock in First-Year Member. It also reports 152 teams recognized in one session and 26 state-winning Agriscience Fair projects. The 2024 page names Lind-Ritzville in Farm and Agribusiness Management and Meats, and Connell as the first-ever winner of MS Food Products and Processing.

What Competing Looks Like

Contests range widely. Veterinary Science, per its event page, combines a written exam testing knowledge and breed, equipment and parasite identification with hands-on clinical and handling practicums, and for 2026 organizers released six potential practicums and chose four, two clinical and two handling. Food science and milk quality events at WSU have included sensory tests, cheese identification, injections, animal restraint and identifying parasites. Other contests, such as Agricultural Sales, are team events scored alongside individual placings. In 2018 the winning Wenatchee sales team placed three members in the individual top six out of about 140 students, per Wenatchee Schools. Plan to learn both the content and the contest format.

Choosing a Contest

• Animal-minded: Livestock, Horse, Dairy Cattle, Poultry, Veterinary Science, Meats and Milk Quality.
• Plants and land: Agronomy, Apple and Potato Evaluation, Soils and Land, Rangeland, Forestry, Floriculture, Nursery/Landscape.
• Hands-on and technical: Agricultural Skills, Tractor Driving, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems.
• Business and communication: Marketing Plan, Agricultural Sales, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Communications.
• Newer members: First-Year Member and the middle school events.

Preparing

• Download your event handbook from the state page and study its current rules, since events change.
• Practice as a team and with real material. Veterinary Science includes a written exam plus clinical and handling practicums, per its page.
• Use local industry. Washington orchards, dairies, meat processors and farms are natural practice sites to ask about.
• Ask about grade eligibility and the number of teams your chapter may enter before you recruit.
• Plan travel and lodging early, since the convention runs several days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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