About this event
Each individual part runs 20 minutes. Students score 10 milk samples for flavor defect and intensity (120 points) and identify 10 dairy and non-dairy products and their fat content (100). They read 5 California Mastitis Test samples (40) plus 5 on-farm culture plate images, a new part (35). They identify 10 cheeses and mark their characteristics (100), take a 40-question multiple-choice exam with 20 questions on quality milk production and 20 on milk marketing (120), and answer 12 problem-solving questions (72). The team then spends about 45 minutes running or reading raw milk tests and gives an oral report of up to 12 minutes on whether the milk is acceptable and how to improve it. The team activity is worth 400: accuracy of results 100 (five of eight tests, 20 each), presentation 200, content of comments 50 and teamwork 50. Teams have four members and all four scores count: 587 points per student with the culture plates (552 without) and 2,748 per team (2,608 without). Open to grades 7-12 under the general rules. FFA Official Dress is highly recommended; skip strong deodorant, perfume and gum. Bring two No. 2 pencils and water or an allowed palate cleanser: apples, apple juice, soda crackers or water in clear bottles. FFA supplies paper, clipboards and calculators. Glass, phones, calculators and other devices are not allowed. State winners advance to the national event held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationSix individual parts of 20 min each (flavor, product ID, mastitis test and culture, cheese, written exam, problem solving), team work period about 45 min, team oral report up to 12 min
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryFood Products and Processing 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
40 questions in 20 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 12-minute limit.
Get judged on your presentation
The areas of the exam
Milk flavor defects
Dairy and non-dairy product identification
California Mastitis Test
On-farm culture plates
Cheese identification and characteristics
Quality milk production
Milk marketing
Value of milk and its components
Cleaning and sanitizing chemicals
Standardization of components
Raw milk acceptability tests
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Milk Quality and Products 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
Team activity presentation
- Speaking without hesitation25
- Tone25
- Being detail-oriented30
- Speaking unrehearsed30
- All team members participated30
- Mannerism15
- Gestures15
- Well-poised15
Team activity content of comments
- Result5
- Result5
- Result5
- Temperature result5
- Beta-lactam antibiotic test result5
- Freezing point result5
- Result5
- Sanitation swab result5
- Knowledge base and impact of test results5
- Deals with issues from test results5
Exam day
What to expect
40-question written exam in 20 minutes
Official format: Six individual parts of 20 min each (flavor, product ID, mastitis test and culture, cheese, written exam, problem solving), team work period about 45 min, team oral report up to 12 min.
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 limit20 minutes
- Questions40 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.
- Hoard's Dairyman, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, issues from November of the previous year to May of the current year (paid magazine)
- Dairy Foods: Producing the Best, by Dr. Robert Marshall, Instructional Materials Laboratory (booklet on FFA Box)
- Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, 18th edition, edited by Jeffrey L. Kornacki, Elliot T. Ryser, Cynthia M. Mangione and H. Michael Wehr, American Public Health Association, 2024 (paid book)
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.