WOODBURY– Every year, the UConn agriculture department hosts the annual CDE (career development event) Day in both fall and spring. On Nov. 17, the Woodbury FFA is sending multiple different teams to compete for horse judging, poultry judging, floriculture, and more. 

UConn CDE Day is an exciting but also stressful day for both the students competing and also the advisors who want their students to do their best. 

This Friday, students will arrive at Nonnewaug at 6:30 a.m. in order to arrive at UConn at 9, the starting time for competitions. 

“Each competition is different for each team,”  said senior Lily McDonald, who will be competing in tomorrow’s Floriculture CDE. “Once we get to UConn, we each go to the different sections of the competitions separately, such as for me, I first go to corsage making. Then the team event is held where I confer with my teammates to solve a problem relating to floriculture. After that, the plant identification part is held. General knowledge is next, which is a test on paper with multiple choices which shows what you know with floriculture, and lastly is problem solving. Each competition varies for each person.” 

McDonald’s confidence comes from her previous two years competing at UConn as  the team won second place last year and are striving to earn first this year. 

The entire day for Woodbury FFA competitors is filled with non-stop competitions and will assess students’ skills on a variety of levels. Even though the day is stressful, it is also rewarding after the day is over. 

“It is stressful, but in the end it is really rewarding,” said Mae Addeo, a junior on the Floriculture team. “Our team is finally finished with the late-night practices and is able to go and enjoy some ice cream afterwards.”