**NEW ** In 2024-2025, the California FFA Foundation awards program has adopted a new structure to align with the National FFA's pathway model, which better highlights how competitions develop skills linked to career paths. As a result, support will fund several competitions within a pathway, rather than one contest. This also gives more flexibility to the sponsor to serve as a gold, silver, or bronze sponsor within a specific pathway(s).
Supporting agricultural students through award sponsorship is a key component of the California FFA Foundation's efforts.
The purposes of the Agricultural Pathway Awards Program are to:
- Stimulate interest in the instructional program.
- Stimulate interest in agricultural occupations.
- Reward FFA members at the local, state, regional, and national levels for exceptional accomplishments in progressing toward specific occupational objectives in agriculture.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, the California FFA will offer opportunities in 7 career pathways that equate to 40 Proficiency categories focused on their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE); 4 STAR awards, 9 Leadership Development Events (LDE); 33 Career Development Events (CDE); and 6 Agriscience categories. Each category remains a competitive-based system in which members may compete in the development of specialized skills and abilities in an agricultural career.
Thanks to California FFA Foundation pathway sponsors for their support of Career Development Events (CDE), Leadership Development Events (LDE), Proficiency Awards, Agriscience Fair, and STAR Awards.
If you are interested in sponsoring a pathway, please click here to learn more or contact the California FFA Foundation.
California FFA Awards & Career Pathways
Pathways
Awards are organized within 7 pathways connecting students to skills and career possibilities. The pathways include Agribusiness Systems; Agricultural Education Systems; Food Products and Processing Systems; Animal Systems; Biotechnology; Environmental Service and Natural Resources Systems; Plant Systems; and Power, Structural, Technical Systems.
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 that 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
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 agriculture 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)
- Record Book
- Agricultural Issues Forum
- Agricultural Sales
- Farm & Agribusiness Management
- Marketing (Co-Ops)
- Marketing Plan
Proficiency Categories
- Agricultural Communications
- Agricultural Processing
- Agricultural Sales - Ent./Place
- Agricultural Services
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
- Best Informed Greenhand
- Creed Speaking
- El Credo de la FFA Speaking
- Impromptu Public Speaking
- Parliamentary Procedure - Novice & Advance
- Prepared Public Speaking
Proficiencies
- Agricultural Education
- Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems
- Service Learning
Agriscience Fair
- Social Systems
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
- Meats Judging
- Milk Quality and Products
Proficiencies
- Agricultural Processing
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
Proficiencies
- Agriscience Research - Animal Systems
- Beef Production - Ent./Place
- Dairy Production - Ent./Place
- Diversified Agricultural Production - Ent./Place
- Diversified Livestock Production - Ent./Place
- Equine Science - Ent./Place
- Goat Production
- Poultry Production
- Sheep Production
- Small Animal Production & Care
- Specialty Animal Production
- Veterinary Science
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 a natural resources.
Career Development Events
- Agricultural Pest Control
- California Water
- Forestry
- Natural Resources
- Soil & Land Evaluation
Proficiencies
- Environmental Science & Natural Resources
- Forestry Management & Products
- Outdoor Recreation
- Wildlife Production & Management
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
- Agriscience Research - Plant Systems
- Diversified Crop Production - Ent./Place
- Diversified Horticulture
- Fiber/Oil Crop Production
- Forage Production
- Fruit Production
- Grain Production
- Landscape Management
- Nursery Operations
- Specialty Crop Production
- Turf Grass Management
- Vegetable Production
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
- Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance- Ent./Place
The Golden Owl Award 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 April 2025. To submit a nomination, click here.
