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.
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
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