About this event
In the team activity, the team gets one hour, markers and flip charts to build a presentation on the annual scenario, a problem in soils, water, ecosystems or waste management. It gives an 8-minute talk and takes 5 minutes of questions, worth 600 points. Each member takes a 50-question objective exam in 60 minutes (100 points) and identifies 50 items, such as pelts, bones, photos, footprint casts or scat, in 60 minutes (100). Each member then works four of five annual practicums, 30 minutes and 100 points each: data interpretation, water analysis, soil profile, GPS locations and waste management. Totals are 600 per member and 3,000 per team. Teams have four members, and all four scores count. The event is open to grades 7 to 12. The handbook sets no dress rule, but the event runs in any weather, so members need rainwear, warm clothes and good footwear. The event supplies a clipboard, two No. 2 pencils and all other tools. If the orientation packet asks, each member brings a handheld GPS unit with no built-in link to other units, and units may not be shared. No one may touch identification items, and teams may not visit the site after Sept. 1. State winners go on to the national event at the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationWritten exam 60 min, identification 60 min, four practicums 30 min each, team activity 60 min prep plus 8 min talk and 5 min questions
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryNatural Resource Systems
Your plan
How to study
Built from the official handbook. Take the check and read every lesson here with no account; a free account keeps your progress and opens flashcards, practice and full exams.
Find your weakest area
Take the 8-question check below: one question from each of the 8 biggest areas. It tells you where to start.
Start the checkLearn every area
Every area of the official handbook is below. Each has a short lesson, flashcards and practice, plus free reading.
See the areasPractice until every bar is full
Practice gives you one question at a time and leans toward the areas you miss. Your readiness meter fills as you get them right in every area.
PracticeTake a full exam at the real pace
50 questions in 60 minutes, the official length. Your readiness meter counts your last 3 full exams from the past 30 days, and 90% fills each one.
Take a practice examRehearse the presentation
Type or say your presentation. The judge scores it on the official scorecard and times you against the 8-minute limit.
Get judged on your presentation
The areas of the exam
Ecosystems
Waste management
Identification: equipment
Identification: native species
Identification: invasive and non-native species
Data interpretation
Water analysis
Soil profile
GPS locations
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Environmental and Natural Resources exam. Each one is graded the moment you answer, with the reason, and the last screen tells you which area to study first. No account needed.
Judging
What judges score
Visual presentation
- Use of visual aid50
- Content50
- Spelling, grammar and mechanics25
- Clarity and neatness25
Oral presentation
- Introduction of team members10
- Overview of scenario50
- Presentation of key components65
- Presentation contains accurate information65
- Solution is relevant to the scenario50
- Conclusion summarizes the presentation50
- Questions and answers65
- Team spoke articulately without hesitation20
- Team was extremely well-poised15
- Team made eye contact with the judge15
- Team exhibited confident body language15
- Each member sufficiently contributed15
- Team support and professionalism15
Exam day
What to expect
50-question written exam in 60 minutes
Official format: Written exam 60 min, identification 60 min, four practicums 30 min each, team activity 60 min prep plus 8 min talk and 5 min questions.
Written from the handbook
The exam covers the areas the event's handbook lists, from the references it names. Practice questions here are drawn from the same areas.
How you advance
How many advance from districts to states and on to the National FFA Convention & Expo (National Convention) depends on your association's rules. Study the official handbook: it lists every part of the event and how each is scored.
Exam format
- Time limit60 minutes
- Questions50 questions
- TeamTeam of 4
Competition levels: District Career Development Events, then State Career Development Events, then National FFA Convention & Expo
Official reference books
Listed in the official FFA handbook. Your school or public library may have them.
- Past CDE materials and other resources, FFA.org
- Managing Our Natural Resources, Camp and Daughtery, Delmar Publishers, Inc., 2009 (paid book)
- Land Judging in Oklahoma, J.H. Stiegler, 4-H Member's Guide, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University
- Environmental Science: Fundamentals and Applications, Cengage Learning, 2007 (paid book)
- Applied Environmental Science, FFA.org/thecouncil/resources
- GPS.gov
- Spatial reference system, Wikipedia
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.