California FFA Awards & Career Pathways
The California FFA Foundation’s Awards Program recognizes FFA members for developing the skills, knowledge, and experiences that prepare them for future careers in agriculture. In 2024–2025, the program adopted a pathway-based structure aligned with the National FFA model. Rather than sponsoring an individual contest, sponsors support multiple competitions and awards within a selected career pathway.
Pathway Sponsorship Levels
- Gold Sponsor - $2,500
- Silver Sponsor - $1,250
- Bronze Sponsor - $500
Sponsors are recognized at their selected sponsorship level within their chosen pathway(s), helping provide meaningful recognition and opportunities for California FFA members.
2026–2027 Awards Program
California FFA offers opportunities across 7 career pathways:
- Agribusiness Systems
- Agricultural Education Systems
- Food Products & Processing Systems
- Animal Systems
- Biotechnology, Environmental Service & Natural Resources Systems
- Plant Systems
- Power, Structural & Technical Systems
Across these pathways, students can compete in 101 Proficiency categories, 5 STAR Awards, 8 Leadership Development Events (LDEs), 39 Career Development Events (CDEs), and 6 Agriscience Fair categories. These competitive opportunities challenge students to build critical thinking, communication, leadership, teamwork, technical, and career-ready skills.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Pathway sponsorships help fund recognition for students participating in Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, Proficiency Awards, Agriscience Fair, and STAR Awards.
Interested in sponsoring a pathway? Click here to learn more or contact the California FFA Foundation.
Career and Leadership Development Events
Through Career and Leadership Development Events, participating FFA members in grades 7 to 12 are challenged to develop critical thinking skills, effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork, and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement while developing skills for future career success. CDE and LDE events begin at the local and state levels and culminate at the national level.
Awards for each of the State Finals Contests consist of:
- One High Team Bowl
- One High Individual Plaque
- High Team Jacket Pins
- High Individual Jacket Pin
- Five Top Team Rosettes
- Five Top Individual Rosettes
- Various Sub-contest Ribbons
Agriscience Fair
The Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food, and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels.
Awards for each of the State Finals Contests consist of: Silver Bowls, Plaques, Ribbons, and Scholarships.
Agricultural Proficiency Awards
Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through Supervised Agricultural Experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students can compete for awards in 40 areas. Proficiency awards are recognized at local, state, and national levels and provide recognition to members who are exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways.
Awards for each of the State Finals Contests consist of: Silver Bowls, Plaques, Ribbons, and Scholarships.
Agribusiness System Pathway
American Ag Credit
Golden State Farm Credit
G&E te Velde Orchards, LLC
Almond Board of California
Lloyd and Sheila McCabe
Gina Boster
Agricultural Council of California
Grimmway Produce Group
Agricultural Education System Pathway
American Farm Bottle Company LLC
Cutting Edge Curriculum Inc.
CALF Class 52
California Farm Bureau Federation
Farm Credit Alliance
CoBank
Farm Credit Alliance
California Cotton Alliance
Silkwood Family Foundation
CoBank
Western Plant Health Association
iCEV Multimedia, LTD.
Almond Board of California
Vivayic, Inc.
Animal System Pathway
California Beef Cattle Improvement Association
Ray and Erica Prock
CoBank
JS West and Companies
Golden State Farm Credit
Central Valley Meat Company
Associated Feed and Supply
Golden State Strategy Group, LLC.
Bill Tebbe
California Pork Producers Association
Double J Rabbitry
Biotechnology, Environmental Service, and Natural Resources System Pathway
Modesto Irrigation District
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
Lower Tule River & Pixley Irrigation District
Tulare Irrigation District
The California Forest Foundation
US Water Well
Ironstone Concours Foundation
California Farm Bureau Federation
Ralphs Prather Ranch Foundation
Food Products and Processing System Pathway
Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
CoBank
American Farm Bottle Company, LLC.
Blue Diamond Growers
Plant Systems Pathway
Ironstone Concours Foundation
JM Lord, Inc.
California Cotton Alliance
Hugh Mooney
Yearout Investment Properties
Smittcamp Ag Enterprises
Almond Board of California
CANERS Foundation
Grimmway Produce Group
CSU, Chico - College of Agriculture
TS&L Seeds
Martinez Ranches, Inc.
West Coast Turf
Tanimura & Antle, Inc.
Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Pathway
Almond Board of California
Kubota Tractor - Western Division
Kirby Manufacturing, Inc.
Fastenal
Reedley College Equipment Technician Program
East Bay Tire
AGCO
Ponderosa Telephone Company
Far West Equipment Dealers Association
The agribusiness field encompasses activities that contribute to successful agricultural production. This can include crop production, farm equipment, seed supply, marketing, natural resources, and animal services. People who work in this pathway typically enjoy working in teams and using high-tech tools to increase.
Career Development Events:
- Agricultural Communications
- Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET) Farm Record Book
- Agricultural Issues Forum
- Agricultural Sales
- Farm Business Management
- Marketing (Co-Ops)
- Marketing Plan
Proficiencies:
- Agribusiness Systems
- Agricultural Communications - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Communications - Placement
- Agricultural Sales - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Sales - Placement
- Agricultural Services - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Services - Placement
This pathway prepares students to be successful in their profession and offers a lifetime of informed choices in global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems.
Leadership Development Events:
- Creed Speaking
- El Credo de la FFA Speaking
- Job Interview
- Extemporaneous Public Speaking
- Impromptu Public Speaking
- Parliamentary Procedure – Novice & Advanced
- Prepared Public Speaking
Career Development Events:
- Agricultural Education
- Best Informed Greenhand
Proficiencies:
- Agricultural Education - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Education - Placement
- Analytical Research - Integrated Systems
- Experimental Research - Integrated Systems
- Invention Research - Integrated Systems
- Analytical Research - Social Science
- Experimental Research - Social Science
- Invention Research - Social Science
- Community Engagement - Service Learning
- Community Safety - Service Learning
- Hunger, Health and Nutrition - Service Learning
Agriscience Fair:
- Social Science
The study of product development, quality assurance, food safety, production, packaging, regulation and compliance, and food service within the food science industry.
Career Development Events:
- Food Science & Technology
- Meats Judging
- Milk Quality & Products
Proficiencies:
- Agricultural Processing - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Processing - Placement
- Analytical Research - Food Products & Processing
- Experimental Research - Food Products & Processing
- Invention Research - Food Products & Processing
- Food Products & Processing Systems
Agriscience Fair:
- Food Products & Processing System
This pathway includes opportunities to work directly with animals or to work with products that come from animals. The study of animal systems, including life processes, health, nutrition, genetics, management and processing, through the study of small animals, aquaculture, livestock, dairy, horses, and/or poultry.
Career Development Events:
- Dairy Cattle Judging
- Light Horse Judging
- Livestock Judging
- Poultry Judging
- Veterinary Science Judging
- Rabbit/Cavy Evaluation & Knowledge
Proficiencies:
- Animal Systems
- Experimental Research - Animal Systems
- Analytical Research - Animal Systems
- Invention Research - Animal Systems
- Beef Production - Entrepreneurship
- Beef Production - Placement
- Dairy Production - Entrepreneurship
- Dairy Production - Placement
- Diversified Agricultural Production - Entrepreneurship
- Diversified Agricultural Production - Placement
- Diversified Livestock Production - Entrepreneurship
- Diversified Livestock Production - Placement
- Equine Science - Entrepreneurship
- Equine Science - Placement
- Goat Production - Entrepreneurship
- Goat Production - Placement
- Poultry Production - Entrepreneurship
- Poultry Production - Placement
- Sheep Production - Entrepreneurship
- Sheep Production - Placement
- Small Animal Production & Care - Entrepreneurship
- Small Animal Production & Care - Placement
- Specialty Animal Production - Entrepreneurship
- Specialty Animal Production - Placement
- Swine Production - Entrepreneurship
- Swine Production - Placement
- Veterinary Science - Entrepreneurship
- Veterinary Science - Placement
Agriscience Fair:
- Animal Systems
Biotechnology Systems in agriculture enhances plants, animals, and microorganisms using science to modify an organism's genetic composition. Environmental Service Systems is the study of systems, instruments, and technology used to monitor and minimize the impact of human activity on environmental systems. Natural Systems is the study of the management, protection, enhancement, and improvement of soil, water, wildfire, forests, and air as natural resources.
Career Development Events:
- Agricultural Pest Control
- California Water
- Forestry
- Natural Resources
- Soil & Land Evaluation
Proficiencies:
- Analytical Research - Environmental Science/Natural Resources Systems
- Experimental Research - Environmental Science/Natural Resources Systems
- Invention Research - Environmental Science/Natural Resources Systems
- Biotechnology Systems
- Environmental Responsibility - Service Learning
- Environmental Service Systems
- Environmental Science & Natural Resources Systems - Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Science & Natural Resources Systems - Placement
- Forest Management & Products - Entrepreneurship
- Forest Management & Products - Placement
- Natural Resource Systems
- Outdoor Recreation - Entrepreneurship
- Outdoor Recreation - Placement
- Wildlife Production & Management - Entrepreneurship
- Wildlife Production & Management - Placement
Agriscience Fair:
- Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems
The study of plant life cycles, classifications, functions, structures, reproduction, media and nutrients, as well as growth and cultural practices, through the study of crops, turf grass, trees and shrubs and/or ornamental plants.
Career Development Events:
- Agronomy
- Citrus Judging
- Cotton
- Floriculture
- Fruit Tree Judging
- Fruit Tree Pruning
- Grapevine Judging
- Grapevine Pruning
- Nursery/Landscape
- Vegetable Crop Judging
Proficiencies:
- Analytical Research - Plant Systems
- Experimental Research - Plant Systems
- Invention Research - Plant Systems
- Diversified Crop Production - Entrepreneurship
- Diversified Crop Production - Placement
- Diversified Horticulture - Entrepreneurship
- Diversified Horticulture - Placement
- Fiber/Oil Crop Production - Entrepreneurship
- Fiber/Oil Crop Production - Placement
- Forage Production - Entrepreneurship
- Forage Production - Placement
- Fruit & Nut Production - Entrepreneurship
- Fruit & Nut Production - Placement
- Grain Production - Entrepreneurship
- Grain Production - Placement
- Landscape Installation - Entrepreneurship
- Landscape Installation - Placement
- Nursery Operations - Entrepreneurship
- Nursery Operations - Placement
- Plant Systems
- Specialty Crop Production - Entrepreneurship
- Specialty Crop Production - Placement
- Turf & Landscape Maintenance - Entrepreneurship
- Turf & Landscape Maintenance - Placement
- Vegetable Production - Entrepreneurship
- Vegetable Production - Placement
Agriscience Fair:
- Plant Systems
The study of and application of knowledge of agricultural equipment, power systems, alternative fuel sources, and precision technology, engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics, power, structures, and controls to the field of agriculture. This may include woodworking, metalworking, welding, and project planning for agricultural structures.
Career Development Events:
- Agricultural Mechanics
- Agricultural Mechanics Fair
- Agricultural Welding
- Farm Power & Machinery
- Small Engines
Proficiencies:
- Analytical Research - Power, Structure, & Technical Systems
- Experimental Research - Power, Structure, & Technical Systems
- Invention Research - Power, Structure, & Technical Systems
- Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication - Placement
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance - Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance - Placement
- Power, Structural, & Technical Systems
Agriscience Fair:
- Power, Structural & Technical Systems
The Golden Owl Award is sponsored by Nationwide in partnership with California Farm Bureau and California FFA Foundation. Regional winners and Golden Owl Award nominees will be announced prior to the California State FFA Leadership Conference in early March 2027. To submit a nomination, click here. For contest rules, click here.
