General Information: Judging teams consist of 3-4 people who compete in a specific contest. Teams will go to various field days throughout the spring leading up to the state competition at Cal Poly in May. The following judging teams are most commonly done in our chapter, however there are many other judging teams students can participate in.
- Livestock
- Participants learn to understand and to interpret the value of performance data based on the livestock industry standards. This CDE's goal is to develop the students' ability to select and market livestock that will satisfy consumer demands and provide increased economic returns to producers. Additionally, students will become proficient in communicating using the livestock industry terminology. Types of livestock species evaluated include: Beef, Sheep, Swine, and Goats. The contest consists of 10 judging classes, an exam, a keep/cull class, and four sets of oral reasons. Students' livestock knowledge will be tested in the following categories:
- To Make Accurate Observations of Livestock
- To Determine The Desirable Traits in Animals
- To Make Logical Decisions Based on These Observations
- To Discuss and To Defend Their Decisions For Their Placing
- To Instill An Appreciation For Desirable Selection, Management, and Marketing Techniques
- Participants learn to understand and to interpret the value of performance data based on the livestock industry standards. This CDE's goal is to develop the students' ability to select and market livestock that will satisfy consumer demands and provide increased economic returns to producers. Additionally, students will become proficient in communicating using the livestock industry terminology. Types of livestock species evaluated include: Beef, Sheep, Swine, and Goats. The contest consists of 10 judging classes, an exam, a keep/cull class, and four sets of oral reasons. Students' livestock knowledge will be tested in the following categories:
- Floriculture
- The Floriculture Career Development Event seeks to effectively prepare students for the expectations of the agricultural floral industry. The students seeking careers in the floricultural field must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill, they must also use critical thinking and oral communication skills. They will be able to demonstrate quality evaluation by judging potted foliage plants, cut flowers, flowering potted plants, and floral design classes. The students will identify the many cut flowers, potted plants, and tools and materials commonly used in the floral industry. Students will also construct a construct a corsage and floral arrangement according to the floral industry standards. Contest areas are:
- Plant Identification
- Floral Design
- Corsage Construction
- Tools and Materials Identification
- Evaluation of Flowers, Foliage Plants, Flowering Plants.
- Floral Arrangements
- How to give oral reasons to support your placement of classes that have been judged
- The Floriculture Career Development Event seeks to effectively prepare students for the expectations of the agricultural floral industry. The students seeking careers in the floricultural field must not only develop a high degree of knowledge and skill, they must also use critical thinking and oral communication skills. They will be able to demonstrate quality evaluation by judging potted foliage plants, cut flowers, flowering potted plants, and floral design classes. The students will identify the many cut flowers, potted plants, and tools and materials commonly used in the floral industry. Students will also construct a construct a corsage and floral arrangement according to the floral industry standards. Contest areas are:
- Cooperative Marketing
- Students will have to read books about Cooperative Marketing in Agriculture and take a 100 question test about the books. The test contains multiple choice questions, true and false questions, matching, and even math problems. Students prepare for months studying and researching Cooperative Marketing while also taking practice tests.
- Other Judging Teams
- Agricultural Communications
- Agricultural Sales
- Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems
- Agronomy
- Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management
- Dairy Cattle Handlers Activity
- Environmental & Natural Resources
- Farm & Agribusiness Management
- Food Science & Technology
- Forestry
- Horse Evaluation
- Marketing Plan
- Meats Evaluation & Technology
- Milk Quality & Products
- Nursery/Landscape
- Poultry Evaluation
- Veterinary Science