Middle School Agriscience

Contest Chairs:
Stephanie Donnerbauer 
Amy Gerhardt

Contest Description

The Middle School Agriscience CDE is a competition for middle school students who wish to have the opportunity to experience what a variety of CDE competitions are like. The competition includes content from animal science, plant science, agricultural mechanics, food science, and FFA. Each participant will compete individually in all areas. The contest will include a total of 25 identification problems and 25 multiple choice questions. Below you will find a further breakdown of topics to study.

Scoring

Teams can consist of up to four members who compete separately from one another during the competition. The team score will be calculated by adding the top four individual scores.

Topics

Animal Science

Breed Identification:

  • Dairy
  • Beef
  • Swine
  • Horse
  • Chicken
  • Goat
  • Sheep

Beef Cattle Anatomy:

  • Tailhead
  • Poll
  • Loin
  • Brisket
  • Rump
  • Rear Flank
  • Ribs

General Knowledge:
Digestive Systems

  • Ruminants
  • Monogastric
  • Hind Gut Fermenters

Nutrition

  • Forages
  • Concentrates

Gestation Periods
Biosecurity
Animal Terminology 
Plant Science
Identification: 
Plant Anatomy

  • Internodes
  • Leaves
  • Nodes
  • Petals
  • Pistil
  • Receptacle
  • Root Hairs
  • Sepal
  • Stamen
  • Terminal Bud

Common Crops and Flowers:

  • African Violet
  • Alfalfa
  • Barley
  • Begonia
  • Field Corn
  • Gladiolus
  • Oats
  • Petunia
  • Red clover
  • Wheat
  • Zinnia

General Knowledge:
Basic Horticultural Plant Care:

  • Fertilizing
  • Basic Requirements for Life (Air, Water, Sunlight, Temperature)
  • Photosynthesis
  • Pest management
  • Soil Medias

Field Scenarios:

  • Pest Damage
  • Weather Damage
  • Fertilizer Damage

Agricultural Mechanics 
Identification:
Machines

  • Table Saw
  • Band Saw
  • Sander
  • Router
  • Plainer
  • Chop Saw
  • Drill Press

Welding Types

  • SMAW
  • MIG
  • TIG

General Knowledge:
Mechanics Lab Safety

  • Personal Protection Equipment
  • Shop Safety Color Coding System
  • Shop Facility Safety

Food Science 
Identification:
Primal Pig Cuts

  • Ham
  • Loin
  • Bacon
  • Ribs
  • Spareribs
  • Picnic

General Knowledge:
Food Safety

  • Temperature Ranges for Cooking, Holding, and Cooling
  • Food Nutritional Comparisons (i.e., banana vs. potato)
  • Preparation

Vocabulary

  • Preservatives
  • GMOs
  • Malnutrition
  • Pathogen
  • Perishable vs. Non Perishable 

FFA Knowledge
Written Exam:

  • Officer Stations
  • Parts of the FFA Emblem
  • Degree Pins/Charms
  • Official Dress
  • SAE Categories
  • Purpose of FFA
  • FFA Mission
  • Membership Requirements
  • 3 Components of Agricultural Education (3-Circle Model)
  • CDE areas
  • LDE areas
  • FFA Degrees
  • Official Colors
  • Important Dates in National FFA History
    • Smith‐Hughes Act
    • FFA Established
    • FFA Creed Adopted
    • FFA Jacket Adopted
    • FFA Opened to Female Students
    • Name Change to National FFA Organization
    • National FFA Center in Indianapolis Opens
  • Current WI and National FFA Officer Team