5 Tips for National FFA Forestry CDE Success
The Mary Persons FFA Chapter in Georgia captured its second consecutive National FFA Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) team championship at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Winning back-to-back titles took hundreds of hours of practice, more than 35,000 words of study notes and over 2,000 mock questions to master the contest’s general knowledge portion, explains junior FFA member Carter Johnson.
Students must master forestry terminology, sustainability principles, tree species identification, environmental and social impacts on forest management, forest business calculations and demonstrate hands-on skills under pressure.
“Timber cruising is the hardest part of this contest,” says Ryan Smith, the Central Region Area forestry teacher and former Mary Persons agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
Timber cruising is the process of estimating tree counts, species and standing timber volume. Team members trained in compass and pacing, chainsaw maintenance, map interpretation, equipment and wood product identification and diagnosing forest disorders.
Here, Johnson and Smith offer five tips for success in the National FFA Forestry CDE.
1. Simulate competition.
During practices, Smith and Mary Persons FFA advisor Hannah Cheek created varied practicums that mirrored contest conditions. The team practiced one to two hours after school daily and met on Sundays prior to the national event.
“It helped us with time management, team chemistry and working under pressure,” Johnson says.
2. Lean into cumulative knowledge.
Johnson says cumulative team knowledge contributed to success. Members of the previous year’s team shared advice for preparing and insights into how to study. Some of the members on this year’s team began participating in seventh grade.
Smith also encourages chapters to lean into state FFA staff, former ag teachers and alumni and supporters to assist in competition preparation.
“We are grateful to have an incredibly supportive state staff and others to assist in preparing students,” he says.
3. Stay focused.
Preparing for state and national competition requires focus.
“Distractions can take you away from what you need to be focused on, which is studying and preparing for the national competition,” Johnson says.
4. Strengthen team accountability.
“Build camaraderie among the students,” Smith says. “Students who hold each other accountable on the team will not let each other down. They acquire the mental grit it takes to give it everything they have.”
5. Adopt a winning mindset.
As many as 50 teams compete at the National FFA Forestry CDE, and success requires the right mindset.
“Mr. Smith told us, ‘Do you want to tell your grandkids that you went to national convention, or do you want to tell them you are a national champion,’” Johnson says. “That encouraged all of us to work hard for ourselves and the three other members of our team.”
The National FFA Forestry CDE aims to spark student interest in forestry and promote it as a career choice. Check out the CDE/LDE webpage and scroll down to forestry for planning resources, including schedules, rules, frequently asked questions and more.
