Why Every FFA Member Should Join a CDE or LDE Team at Least Once
How Contests Build Skills That Outlast the Competition
Some members never compete. They show up for meetings, work on a project and assume contests are for other people. FFA staff would like to change that. In an FFA New Horizons piece on picking an event, Megan McGrady, manager of educational development at the National FFA Organization, urges everyone to get involved in a career or leadership development event at least once. This article collects her reasoning, adds what the official event pages show and offers a practical way to pick.
- Key takeaway: one event is enough to learn what competing teaches, and the entry points are friendlier than most members assume.
- Starting rule: pick based on interests, then stretch on one weakness.
The Official Case
In Tips for Selecting a CDE or LDE, McGrady says students only gain from competing and urges all members to try at least one event. Her reasons:
- Hands-on experience and connections. A student interested in veterinary work, she says, should take part in the veterinary science CDE to gain hands-on experience and potentially industry connections.
- Transferable skills. Even members who do not expect an agricultural career will likely benefit for years, she says, by developing transferable skills and becoming more informed consumers.
- Overcoming fear. Many students are terrified of public speaking, she notes, and the Creed speaking event is a good place for seventh- through ninth-grade members to build confidence.
The article also recommends asking your advisor, who may know your talents or what has historically been popular in the chapter, and suggests giving an event a chance even if it does not interest you at first.
Where Beginners Can Start
Official event pages show that some events are designed as entry points:
- Creed Speaking is exclusively for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade members, who recite the Creed and answer questions about it and basic agriculture.
- Conduct of Chapter Meetings introduces middle school members (grades 7–9) to parliamentary procedure.
Both are structured so a first-time competitor has a defined task and a clear skill to learn.
Teams Welcome Newcomers
New members often assume teams are made up of veterans. FFA’s 2026 feature on a North Carolina livestock evaluation program, Beyond the Placement, describes teams that mix experienced and brand-new competitors, including a junior team of members who had never competed in the event before. All of them, the article says, took home lessons, memories and friendships, in addition to ribbons and placements.
A Three-Question Way to Choose
- What are you curious about? Start with a subject you might want a career in, such as veterinary science, forestry or agricultural communications.
- What scares you slightly? McGrady suggests choosing events that help build new skills and overcome fears.
- Who will you ask? Talk to your advisor and a member who has competed.
What You Might Say When Someone Objects
- “I am not good at speaking.” That is the case for Creed speaking, which is built for first-timers.
- “I will not work in agriculture.” The skills transfer, according to FFA’s staff guidance.
- “I do not have time.” Choose an event with a clear preparation plan and a season, and ask what the commitment is before committing.
- “I might lose.” Losses are part of the learning, which is why FFA’s own guidance stresses improvement over placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many events are there to choose from?
FFA’s participation pages list many, including agronomy, floriculture, forestry, horse evaluation, nursery and landscape and veterinary science among the career development events, plus leadership events such as Creed speaking, extemporaneous public speaking and parliamentary procedure.
What if I do not enjoy competing?
McGrady’s advice is to give an event a try anyway, since you may pick up skills and knowledge along the way even if it does not interest you at first.
Does competing help with scholarships?
FFA says its scholarship selection considers the whole student, including FFA involvement, work experience, SAE, community service, leadership skills and academics. The program’s description does not single out contests, so treat competing as one way to build a leadership record. See 7 Reasons to Apply for an FFA Scholarship Now.
Honest Limits
Not every member can compete: schedules, jobs, family obligations and local program size all affect access. FFA’s staff guidance is encouragement, not a promise of results. The claim here is narrow: trying one event costs little and shows you what the experience is like, which is better than guessing.
The earliest national presidents competed in an organization that was just forming, long before today’s event lineup. Their records appear on this site, including Oliver Kinzie, Jimmy Dillon and Victor Butler Jr.