The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is changing young lives, one CDE at a time

BY LESLIE POSADAS

Multimedia Journalist

Tarleton State University hosted its 53rd annual Career Development Event (CDE) invitational, making it the largest CDE invitational contest in the nation.

CDE invitationals aim to challenge high school-age students with contests including livestock judging, milk quality and products, meats, floriculture, agricultural sales, dairy cattle, entomology, environmental and natural resources, farm business management, homesite evaluation, land, horse, veterinary science, nursery/landscape, poultry, range wildlife and wool.

To make this historical event possible, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources gathered student volunteers to help lead it.

Casey Stevens, an agricultural communications student at Tarleton, helped lead the floriculture exam during the event.

“The most rewarding part of being involved in such a large event was witnessing the remarkable growth and development of the participants,” Stevens said. “Seeing children overcome challenges, build confidence and showcase their newfound skills was truly inspiring, and the cherry on top was the opportunity I had to contribute to the success of the event and make a positive impact on the lives of the participants.”

This invitational was only one of four CDE contests Tarleton will host this spring, and with the help of student volunteers, the next three will be just as successful.

For Kate Tallent, an agricultural education student at Tarleton, these CDE contests are more than a chance to volunteer but also an opportunity to make connections and memories.

“A memorable moment from the meats competition this year was getting to wear the meat frocks and hair nets with my friends,” Tallent said. “It was something that none of us had experienced before, and it was a great way to spend our Service-Learning Day.”

While this event is aimed at teaching the high school kids who attend, it has also made an impact on the lives of the student volunteers who help run it.

“The event impacted my personal and professional growth by teaching me how the event works behind the scenes and all the hard work our faculty puts into these competitions,” Tallent said. “As a future agriculture educator, knowing what it takes and the amount of dedication put into these events will help me train my students on the competitions and professional standards.”

Although this was the 53^rd CDE Tarleton has hosted, there is always room for improvement.

“One suggestion for improvement during CDEs at Tarleton would be to incorporate more interactive and hands-on activities that closely mimic real-world scenarios,” Stevens said. “This could allow children to tackle problems in a more dynamic and engaging way, enhancing their learning experience. Furthermore, providing more opportunities for one-on-one mentorship with industry professionals could offer valuable insights and personalized guidance to the participants.”

For Ryan Smith, an agricultural education student at Tarleton, this annual CDE contest exemplifies the future of agriculture.

“Having the opportunity to help guide the future agriculturalist of our country is something I take pride in,” Smith said. “This event is an invaluable opportunity that I look forward to seeing come to life year after year. Its impact extends far beyond high school students — it also resonates with individuals like myself, who are preparing to step into the real world and face the challenges that lie ahead in the agricultural industry."