The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences continued its mission to serve the community by hosting its 4th annual FFA Career Development Event (CDE) at Prairie View on February 23rd. This event has grown significantly since its introduction in 2014 and continues to impact the lives of FFA members from several Texas counties. This year, roughly 1200 high school participants from all over the state registered for the event and converged on the campus accompanied by their agriculture coaches.
The goal was to give participating students a chance to show their skills in different leadership and career activities. These activities range from a wide variety of agriculture-based concentrations offered in the CAHS including Animal Sciences, Agribusiness and Plant and Soil Sciences.
While at PVAMU, the FFA students competed in an economics test, extemporaneous public speaking, milk quality assessment, land evaluation, and even a mock test for filing veterinary prescriptions for animals. Each activity was designed to help improve students’ skills by giving them an opportunity not only to step out of their comfort zones, but also practice the very things they have learned in school and through FFA programs.
After a long day of competitions and exploring the beautiful campus, the high school students were acknowledged for their winning efforts at the CDE Awards Program. Andra Collins-Johnson, an Agriculture Science Teacher in Aldine ISD, and Horace D. Hodge, USDA/1890 Program Liaison and member of the Texas FFA Association Board of Directors, moderated the program. After an introduction by the Interim Dean of the College of Agriculture & Human Sciences, James M. Palmer, and greetings from Felecia M. Nave, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the students received awards for their participation and excellence in this year’s FFA CDE.
With an event planned on such a large scale it took a lot of effort to make it a success. The coordinator for the CDE, Wash Jones, Associate Professor, expressed just how important it is for students, faculty, and staff to get involved with this event. In an interview with him on the Outlook on Agriculture radio show, he talked about the importance of volunteering. Jones said, “This program would not be possible without our student, faculty, and staff volunteers. We use about 150 volunteers to make this program a success.”
Submitted by Raymond Thomas, DOMCiT Student Staff