Recruitment and marketing efforts in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences are expanding through hosting of FFA Career Development Events (CDE) and Leadership Development Events (LDE). The College hosted its inaugural CDE in February 2014 followed by its inaugural LDE in October 2014. Both events were considered highly successful.
The events, targeting high school FFA students, provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their abilities in various career and leadership areas such as veterinary science, public speaking, nursery and floriculture, land judging, communication and wildlife.
CAHS hosts one of many CDE and LDE competitions conducted around the state throughout the year. Wash A. Jones, Assistant Professor in CAHS and Chair of the CDE and LDE Planning Committees, said that, in addition to FFA students gaining valuable contest experience, the events provide excellent exposure for the College by showing students academic opportunities available to them at PVAMU.
“Bringing students to Prairie View A&M University leads them to realize that we are another option for them if they want to pursue a degree in agriculture,” Jones said.
Additionally, research findings suggest that significant others, such as agriculture teachers, in the lives of high school students boost the likelihood that these students will pursue agriculture careers. Therefore, having the agriculture science teachers on campus with their students heightens the possibility that the teachers will encourage their students to consider PVAMU College of Agriculture and Human Sciences as an option for enrollment.
The next CDE at PVAMU is scheduled for February 26, 2015.
Registration is available at www.judgingcard.com
By Wash Jones, Ph.D.