During the 2025 National FFA Meats Evaluation and Technology Career Development Event (CDE), FFA members hone their skills and knowledge of the meat industry.
In the process of the various team and individual activities, members gain valuable employment skills, as well.
“We do a written exam and then there’s also an opportunity to put [what they learned] into action,” says National FFA Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE Superintendent Stacy Zuelly. “Anytime you’ve gone to the grocery store and you see all the cuts of meat, the label that’s on them is very specific for each one depending on the species and location. So our students have to be able to identify the species, cut, location, the retail name and also the recommended cookery method for that cut.”
Reid Stalsberg of the Fennimore FFA Chapter traveled from Wisconsin to compete in this CDE. He says there’s value in many aspects of the competition, not only from a career perspective, but also as a consumer.
“Who doesn’t like a good steak?” Stalsberg asks. “I just want to learn more about where my food is coming from.”
Stalsberg and his team evaluated meat products at Purdue’s Land O’Lakes Center for Experiential Learning, inside a state-inspected meat processing facility and retail store.
“If it’s beef, you look for the marbling. If it’s pork, look at the trimness. If it is lamb, you combine everything. Each species has its own criteria for placings,” says Stalsberg. “If you’re looking at retail, try to identify the bone structure and the muscle structure.”
For other FFA members, the opportunity to participate in meat judging provides more than just industry knowledge. Kodi Kelso from the Marion FFA Chapter in Texas says she jumped at the opportunity to participate her freshman year.
“You meet so many people, you go everywhere,” says Kelso. “It has taught me how to go home and how to study for hours. I don’t think that’s talked about enough — studying is a skill and you have to know how to do it.”
The now-senior in high school plans to go to Texas Tech next year, bringing along the lifelong skills she gained from participating in this competition.
“It’s gonna help me forever,” Kelso adds.
