Last year, agriculture education students at Stanton Community Schools were thrilled to get their hands on new study materials for multiple Career Development Events (CDE). Previously, their FFA program had little preparatory material for CDE contests. Instead, they used various online resources that were not necessarily targeted for FFA contests. This left students feeling unprepared. After receiving a local chapter grant from the Nebraska FFA Foundation, the Stanton FFA chapter purchased National FFA study materials for meat judging, veterinary science, agriscience, nursery and landscape, and floriculture.
Receiving new study materials wasn’t just for contests, though. This gave students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in less familiar areas, learn about potential careers in agriculture, and spark career interests. In addition to study materials, students participated in hands-on learning opportunities as a study feature. For example, the Nebraska Game and Parks assisted students with a perch dissection in preparation for the state agriscience contest. Stanton FFA qualified several teams that used the new materials for state FFA contests. Sufficient study materials expanded learning opportunities for students, helped them feel prepared for district and state contests, and boosted their confidence.
