Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 4:29 PM
The Bonners Ferry FFA Chapter attended the Idaho State Career Development Events, which was held June 5th through the 8th, in Moscow, Idaho. Career Development Events, or commonly known to FFA members as CDE’s, are competitions that members compete in. All CDE’s are based upon agriculture aspects, and range from Agronomy to Ag Communication. Members from the chapter were excited for the trip because for the first time they saw a former Bonners Ferry Chapter Member and newly elected Idaho Association Vice President, Ayla Neumeyer, speak for the first time in front of Idaho FFA members. Along with the other State Officers, Ayla presented the new theme for the 2012-2013 year. SPARK was new theme decided by the State Officer Team. After the theme was presented to Idaho FFA, everyone that participated in the State CDE’s formed into the letters FFA for a group picture.
There were four CDE’s that the Bonners Ferry Chapter participated in, Livestock Judging, Agronomy, Dairy Foods, and Meats Technology. Livestock Judging is an event where members judge nine classes of different animals, and give an oral reason placing for one class. The Livestock Judging Team was Gabrielle Munson, Collin Stone, Makenzie Carle, and Chase Hannahs. Overall the team received 39th place. Agronomy is considered one of the more challenging CDE’s FFA has to offer. Members have to identify plants, seeds, diseases and must calculate a fertilizer problem for the event. Ayla Neumeyer, Aaron Durham, Gabrielle Munson, and Chase Hannahs made the Agronomy Team which received 11th place. Tasting seven different types of cheeses, identifying nine dairy or non-dairy products, and identifying 7 different types of milk defects, is what makes the Dairy Foods CDE. The Dairy Foods Team was Collin Stone, Gabrielle Munson, Makenzie Carle, and Chase Hannahs. The team placed 19th. Meats Technology is a CDE that challenges members to identify cuts of meat, grades of meat, marbling content, and carcass placing. Members of the Meats Technology Team were Carly Haworth, Makenzie Carle, Aaron Durham, and Justin Williams. The team placed 15th.
Overall as a chapter, Bonners Ferry did well. Although they do not get to participate in the National CDE’s many members of the chapter improved their scores from the district CDE’s they participated in. CDE’s spark many members interest in FFA because of the wide variety of events to compete in.
The Chapter along with the local Alumi will be participating in will be The First Annual Agriculture Festival which will be July, 28th. More posters and information about the Festival will be posted in the weeks to come.
Collin Stone
Bonners Ferry FFA Chapter, Reporter