CDE & LDE

The FFA looks for a promise of better days through better ways with the ultimate objective of premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.                                                         With Career Development Events encompassing all facets of the agricultural field, members can truly find their passion and become the inspirational leaders of                                   tomorrow while they do it. Everything taught in agriculture education classes promote a style of learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve. 

Career and Leadership Development Events develop college and career readiness skills. The competitive events serve as an outgrowth of instruction in the agricultural education classroom for FFA members. Through CDEs and LDEs, participating FFA members are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement

Housatonic Valley FFA members participate in a variety of CDE and LDE's every year. Events include Creed, Prepared Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Dairy Cattle, Employment Skills, Tractor Driving, Safe Equipment Operation, Environmental & Natural Resources, Floriculture, Forestry, Horse Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation, Nursery/Landscape, & Veterinary Science. 

2022-2023 Competitions

District Safe Equipment Operation - Spencer Markow 1st, Brandt Bosio 5thEquine -  2nd place team - Ayla Hill, Harper Howe, Hannah Johnson, Madison Melino. A. Hill 2nd place individual.Nursery Landscape - 2nd place team -  Brandt Bosio, Blaine Curtis, Tyler Anderson, Cole DennisFloriculture - Haley Leonard, Mackenzie Casey, Madeline Collingwood, Anne MoranForestry - 3rd place team - Spencer Markow, Max Lieper, Dana Saccardi, Hayden BellLivestock - Riley Mahaffey, Taylor Green, Wayne McGhee, Taylor ChristenEmployment Skills - Kayla Jacquier District Public Speaking - Kara Franks 1st for Prepared; Riley Mahaffey 1st for Creed; Isaac Watkins 3rd for ExtemporaneousState Creed - Riley MahaffeyAgricultural Mechanics - 3rd place team: Brandt Bosio, Liam MacNeil, Blaine Curtis, Jon Minacci 7th place team: Carter Lotz, Hayden Bell, Aramis Oyanodel, Spencer Markow. Environmental and Natural Resources - Manny Matsudaria, Dana Saccardi, Liam MacMillian, Steve BarberFarm Business Management - 3rd place team: Grace Rive, Kayla Jacquier, Aislynn Weinstein, Mackenzie Corkins.  M. Corkins & A. Weinstein tied for 3rd individual. Vet Science - Haley Swaller, Alyssa Tatro, Kara Franks, Lauren Sorrell. H. Swaller 10th individualAg Communications - 1st place team:  Chris Crane, Hannah Johnson, Simon Markow, Anne MoranAg Sales - Aislynn Weinstein, Mackenzie Casey, Daniela Brennan, Madeline Collingwood

2021-2022 Competitions

Equine Judging Team:  Ayla Hill, Hex Marcus, Harper Howe, KoriAnn WigginsFloriculture Team: Anne Moran, Rachel Ryan, Johanna Cuccia, Lorelei GnerreForestry Team: Natalie Wadsworth, Kara Franks, Spencer Markow, Dana Sacardi

2020-2021 Competitions

Equine Judging Team:  Madison Long, Ayla Hill, Paige MacNeil *virtual competition

Envirothon: Hudson Sebranek, Spencer Markow, Kara Franks, Dana Sacardi, Anne Moran

Dairy Judging: Justine Allyn, Mackenzie Corkins, Myranda Cables, Taylor Christian 

Dairy team - 1st in the state

Chapter Creed:  Anne Moran

Chapter Prepared Public Speaking: Brandon Sorrell & Johanna Cuccia

Chapter Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Tabitha Mafucci


2019-2020 Competitions

Chapter Tractor Driving: 1st - Kneeland Munson,  2nd- Spencer Markow, 3rd- Will Starr,  4th- Kody Kishbaugh.

District Tractor Driving*: Kneeland Munson & Spencer Markow

Nursery & Landscape Team - 2nd in State: Cameron Majette (1st place individual),  Robert Murtagh (2nd place individual), Colby Harrington (6th place individual), & Remington Wandall. 

Equine Judging Team: Justine Allyn (2nd place individual), Madison Long, Isabella Anderson, & Natalie Wadsworth.

Floriculture Team: Cassidy Knutson (9th place individual), Kirstyn Hoage, Karlee McGhee, & Sara Upson.  

Forestry Team: Danielle Gorat, Cameron Majette, Spencer Markow, & Anthony Fenn

Envirothon: Danielle Gorat, Spencer Markow, Mackenzie Corkins, Cameron Majette, David Mullen, Elzhana Oralgaziyeva

Environmental***: Danielle Gorat, Spencer Markow, Mackenzie Corkins, Cameron Majette

Dairy Judging***: Justine Allyn, Makenzie Corkins, Aidan Barr, & Mia Curtiss

Chapter Creed**:  Calli Bosio &  Ava Nason

Chapter Prepared Public Speaking**: Danielle Gorat & Brandon Sorrell

Chapter Extemporaneous Public Speaking**: Anthony Fenn & Isabella Anderson

*these students had qualified for the State competition but due to COVID19 school closures were unable to compete. **these students had qualified for the District competitions but due to COVID19 school closures were unable to compete.***these students were unable to compete in the State competition due to COVID19 school closures. 

2018-2019 Competitions

Envirothon: 1st place - Victor Flores, Danielle Gorat, Cyrus Kearney, Micah Matsudaira, & Ella Matsudaira.

Nursery & Landscape Team: 2nd in State- Alexa O'Connor (3rd place individual), Colby Jacquier (4th place individual), Sam Simmons (8th place individual), Robert Murtagh (9th place individual).

Equine Judging Team: 3rd in State - Madison Long (4th place individual), Justine Allyn (10th place individual), Ryan Duncan, & Abby Larson.  

Floriculture Team: 2nd in State - MacKenzie Hunter (4th place individual), Emma Adam (5th place individual), Cassidy Knutson, & Karlee McGhee. 

Forestry Team: 4th in State - Alyssa Holback (10th place individual), Naomi Dalmida, Patrick Kennedy, & Mary Riccardelli.

Chapter Creed: Natalie Wadsworth

Chapter Prepared Public Speaking: Madison Simonds & MacKenzie Hunter

Chapter Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Maggie Mae Baldwin & Brandon Sorrell

Agricultural Mechanics: Maggie Mae Baldwin, Colby Jacquier, Lancelot Oyanadel, & Tucker Whiting.

Tractor Operation:  Colby Jacquier