Every year, Bear River FFA competes in Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events. Many students participate to thrive as future leaders and gain hands-on experience for their careers in agriculture.
Junior Dakota Graham, the chapter treasurer, is dedicated to the Veterinary Science CDE. This competition has three components: the identification portion, a general knowledge section, and practical exercises.
“My favorite part is Breed ID. It’s fun to test my knowledge with tricky images,” she says.
Graham encourages students to join the Vet Science CDE to experience life as a veterinarian.
Her best advice for newcomers is to “keep with it.”
She believes, “The more you study and compete, the more it will stick in your head.”
In 2023-2024, her team advanced to the state level, competing in San Luis Obispo.
“Although we didn’t place, we did extremely well for our first year,” Graham says. “We started at the bottom but ended up with the top teams who had been competing for four years.”
Senior Kristi Brink, the chapter secretary, is part of the Parliamentary Procedure team, which holds the state record for the most wins. This event showcases legislative procedures in governing meetings. Brink says, “It looks harder than it actually is,” and advises new members, “Don’t give up; it’s a lot of fun.”
Junior Kiley O’Connor joined the Best Informed Greenhand team, which is open to first-year FFA members. She explains that the competition involves tests on FFA facts and history to educate newcomers. The team consists of five members, but only the top three scores count toward the overall placement.
“It was a lot of studying, but I’m glad I participated because I learned so much about FFA and made new friends,” O’Connor says.
She enjoyed traveling for overnight stays and celebrated her team’s achievements at the state finals in Cal Poly.
“We visited Morro Bay and saw Morro Rock, explored shops, and watched sea otters in the bay,” she adds.
For those who prefer a speaking event over analytical tests, Sophomore Audra Paasch believes reciting the FFA Creed is ideal. She joined to boost her public speaking confidence.
“The Creed is a great introduction to speaking competitions. You practice eye contact, voice tone, and thinking on your feet,” she explains.
Her advice is to “enjoy your time on field days; you’ll make the best memories!”
Students like Graham, Brink, O’Connor, and Paasch maximize their opportunities, becoming successful both within and beyond FFA. Like them, you can get involved, compete, and discover the best version of yourself alongside Bear River FFA.