Vista Ridge FFA 101 (Q&A)

What is FFA?

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success. Members are future farmers, chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and premier professionals in many career fields. FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education. 

Through Career and Leadership Development Events (CDEs and LDEs), participating FFA members in 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. Students also have an opportunity to particiate in Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE). The opportunities for these projects are endless, but many students choose an animal project for the SAE. At Vista Ridge, students have an opportunity to select and raise a livesotck animal at the school barn.  Their independent project is completely self funded and they learn life lessons in work ethic, strategy, time and money management, and much more. FFA is fostering the growth of the future leaders of tomorrow and the future of agriculture.

What is Show Season?

Vista Ridge Chapter Show

The Vista Ridge Chapter Show happens at our local barn and is only for our Vista Ridge students. Hosted in November, it is the first "official" show of the season and a great opportunity for students to practice their skills before going to WCLA (County) in December. Family and friends are invited to attend.

WCLA County Show

The Williamson County Livestock Show (WCLA) is comprised of students from FFA and 4H chapters all over Williamson County. It takes place at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor in early December. There is also a youth fair that gives any student in FFA an opportunity to compete in various categories to showcase their skills and interests. Sale is at the end of this and the top performing students are invited to attend.

For more information on WCLA click here. 

GLFFA District Show

The Greater Leander FFA Show (GLFFA) is for all the FFA Chapters in Leander ISD and takes place at the end of January. Students can compete in both animal projects and youth fair projects. Winners are invited to a Sale the week after the Show. 

For more information on GLFFA  click here. 

Major Shows

Majors are the final show of the of the season for swine, lamb and goat projects. The school advisors determine which major show each species will go to and animal transportation to that show is provided by the school. (Majors we attend as a school are typically San Antonio and San Angelo, but this can vary year to year. At least one parent is required to attend with their student's assigned show, and each family is on their own to make hotel arrangements (we do not get specific room blocks). Each major show is run differently, so it is best to get more information from the advisors to know how to best prepare for these shows.

What is “Sale”?

When we refer to “Sale”, we are referring to a scholarship auction that happens at the end of larger livestock shows. When students do well in their placement at the show, they may be offered a spot in the “Sale” that happens on a date after the show is complete. Students are given the opportunity to stand on stage and bidders/supporters come to bid on the students.  For WCLA and GLFFA the student does not actually sell their animal! The bidders (made up of businesses, buyer’s groups and individual supporters) give scholarship money to recognize the student’s achievements. The students in turn receive a scholarship check to use for future projects or education. Students usually prepare a small gift basket for WCLA Sale as a thank you to give to the highest bidder at the auction. For GLFFA Sale, students are not expected to bring a gift or basket to this show. Thank you notes are expected to be written to ALL bidders prior to receiving a scholarship check from "Sale", and the list of bidders is provided in the weeks after the sale is completed. 

You DO NOT take your animal with you to the Sale, but you should bring your banner/buckle/ribbon you received for your placement.

What are “Jackpots”?

Jackpots are smaller local shows that happen throughout our area. They are not sponsored by our school, which means the advisors do not attend. Students and parents are on their own to seek out these shows, transport their animals, and take care of all the logistics. These shows do not have a Sale, but usually offer different prizes that may include such as buckles or prize money. Jackpots are not required, but are an opporunity to learn and practice showing skills. 

What is Youth Fair?

The Youth Fair is a great way to participate in WCLA (County) and GLFFA (District) and does not require participation with an animal project (SAE). There are a wide variety of ways to compete including Floral Design, Plants, Welding, Textiles, Photography, Baking, Science Fair, and much more! The advisors can provide a complete list of project opportunities available.

What are CDEs & LDEs?

Career Developement Events (CDEs)  build on what is learned in agricultural classes and encourage members to put their knowledge into practice. These events are designed to help a member prepare for a career in agriculture by testing and challenging the student's technical, leadership, interpersonal and teamwork skills as well as their knowledge of the subject matter. CDEs answer the question, "When will I use this knowledge in the real world?" Many CDEs are qualifying events for the National FFA CDE competition and/or offer scholarship opportunities.

For more information on CDE choices click here. 

Leadership Developement Events (LDEs) focus on creating situations for members to demonstrate their abilities in public speaking, decision making, communication and their knowledge of agriculture and the FFA organization. Team and individual events are used to reinforce what is taught in agricultural science classrooms. All LDE events have elimination rounds at the district and area before the state level competition. 

For more information on LDE choices click here. 

What are FFA Degrees?

Greenhand FFA Degree

FFA members enrolled in their first year of high school credit agricultural science, that have satisfactory plans for a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program and that have demonstrated their understanding of the history and purpose of the FFA may apply for their Greenhand Degree. This degree of active membership is awarded at the chapter level.

Chapter FFA Degree

Those FFA members that have received their Greenhand degree may apply for the Chapter Degree. Members must be enrolled in an agricultural science class, have completed at least two semesters in agricultural science at or above the ninth grade level, have in operation an approved SAE program, demonstrate leadership skills and be actively involved in the activities of the local FFA chapter. This degree of active membership is awarded at the chapter level. The Chapter FFA Degree is given to an FFA chapter’s top members.

Lone Star FFA Degree

This is the highest degree of membership the State FFA Association can award. FFA members may apply to receive the Lone Star Degree only after they have received the Chapter degree. Those wishing to receive their Lone Star Degree must have been an active FFA member for at least two years, complete at least four semesters of agricultural science at or above the ninth grade level, maintain a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, invest significant time and money in their SAE, demonstrate their leadership skills and show a commitment to the FFA through involvement at the chapter level and above. This degree of active membership is awarded at the state level during the Texas FFA convention.

American FFA Degree

This is the highest degree of membership awarded by the National FFA Organization and is the highest level of active membership which can be achieved within the FFA. This final step in the FFA Degree system encourages members to grow and achieve personally toward establishing yourself in an agricultural career. Members may apply for their American degree only if they have received the State FFA Degree, have graduated from high school at least twelve months prior to the national convention and meet the very high standards for the degree. Only a small percentage of FFA members ever earn this degree (the greatest percentage of members ever to receive the degree in one year was less than one half of one percent). Requirements include an excellent record of involvement within the FFA, operation and maintenance of records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program through which a member has exhibited comprehensive planning, managerial and financial expertise, have earned and productively invested a specific amount of both time and money. The American FFA Degree is a sign of great accomplishment among FFA members. 

For more information on how students can earn their FFA Degrees click here.