The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the Iowa FFA Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) held at Iowa State University on August 27, 2022. The team placed 15th out of 47 teams and earned a Gold medal. Team members included Brett Dreager, Dylan Comes, Joaquin Wailes, and McKenna Sonntag.   

Sonntag, a sophomore, led the way by earning 4th place in the individual division. Sonntag placed 3rd in the Beef division, 2nd in the Swine, 3rd in the Sheep, and 6th in Oral Reasons. Comes was 2nd on the team, placing 69th, Wailes placed 121st, and Dreager placed 129th out of 159 individuals.  

The FFA Livestock Evaluation CDE provides an opportunity for FFA members to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Livestock Evaluation. Activities included placing breeding and market classes of beef, swine, sheep, and goats; keep/cull and oral reasons classes; and a general knowledge test. Comes said “It was really fun to spend the day at ISU. The classes were challenging and touched most aspects of livestock, and I learned a lot.”

The Iowa FFA Livestock Evaluation CDE was made possible with support from the Iowa State University Block and Bridle Club through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The Livestock Evaluation CDE was coordinated and conducted by Will Taylor and other faculty and staff with the Animal Science Department at Iowa State University.

Story submitted by Charli Goff, the Atlantic FFA Reporter.