Close to 2,000 high school students visited the UW-Platteville campus for Career Development Events, a Future Farmers of America activity, in hopes to broaden their knowledge and gain experience for students who are interested in agriculture. Eighty-two high schools participated in 13 events ranging from agricultural mechanics, poultry judging, agronomy and everything in between.

Photograph by Kate Olsen
Kimberly Matthers, left, agribusiness senior, and Danielle Rozonos, ornamental horticulture junior, hand out test booklets to high school students.

After being greeted by Duane Ford, dean of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture, and David Markee, UW-P chancellor, students split up to begin judging and testing. The students were judged on individual scores and combined team scores in hopes of qualifying for the state level contest.

Levi Wedig, a freshman at Darlington High School, participated in the livestock judging at the University Farm. Wedig thought the CDE event was a great experience for any high school student.

“I not only learned more about animals, but I also got to see what college was all about,” Wedig said.

Every year students from all over Wisconsin travel to UW-P to participate in this FFA contest. Students study courses they have an interest in or hope to pursue a career in someday. Mark Zidon, professor of agricultural education, and Rick Bockhop, assistant professor of agricultural education, headed the large event. Bockshop said that he participated in this event in 1971, when he was still a high school student.

The National FFA Organization has been promoting CDE since 1928, when the organization first started to promote agriculture and connect students in the classroom with real life experience. In total there are 23 categories students can participate in. The goal of CDE is to implement what was learned in class and exhibit their skills in a competitive setting.

CDE is a great way for students to express their love for agriculture and gain knowledge. Not only did the event promote the importance of agriculture but also what is offered at UW-P for high school students.