About this event
Members rotate through the classes, 10 minutes each, with about 1 minute to move: market broiler placing, egg-type hen placing, carcass grading, carcass placing, interior and exterior shell egg grading, an egg written factors class, two further processed product classes, and carcass parts identification. Most classes are worth 50 points. Oral reasons on two classes take 10 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to give, worth 100. The 30-item written exam is worth 100, with time set by officials; the 2027 exam covers a core topic list plus the odd-year list. A team activity worth 150 uses data, current events or practicum materials, with time not stated. Each member can earn 700 points and the team 2,950. Teams have four members and all four scores count. No event-specific grade limits are printed. FFA Official Dress is highly recommended. Officials provide a clipboard, paper and a calculator, and no other materials or devices are allowed; the team orientation packet says if a team laptop is needed. Touching carcasses or processed samples, mishandling eggs or treating birds roughly means disqualification. State winners go on to the national event, held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationClasses at 10 min each; oral reasons 10 min prep plus 2 min; written exam and team activity not stated
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryAnimal 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-length exam
30 questions, 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 oral reasons
Type or say your oral reasons. The judge scores it on the official scorecard and times you against the 2-minute limit.
Get judged on your oral reasons
The areas of the exam
Live poultry and ready-to-cook poultry: placing, grading and oral reasons
Shell eggs: interior, exterior and written factors
Further processed poultry and carcass parts identification
Production Segments of the Poultry Industry and Careers in the Poultry Industry
Anatomy & Physiology of the Fowl and Poultry Embryology
Poultry Health Management and Poultry Waste Management
Poultry Environmental Control Management
Poultry Genetics
Poultry Nutrition
Poultry Welfare
Processing Poultry Products
Marketing Poultry Products
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Poultry Evaluation 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
Oral reasons, importance of points covered
- Explained why one was placed over another5
- Stressed crucial differences, not canned comparisons8
- Told all there was to tell of importance5
Oral reasons, appearance and delivery
- Stood still and faced the judge2
- Spoke clearly and loud enough2
- Appropriate opening and closing2
- Spoke smoothly without long pauses2
- Confident and convincing4
Oral reasons, proper use of terms
- Used relevant terminology properly4
- Understood the terms used3
- Able to define the terms used3
Oral reasons, accuracy of statements
- Described birds or carcasses from actual appearance5
- Presented accurate statements5
Exam day
What to expect
30-question written exam
Official format: Classes at 10 min each; oral reasons 10 min prep plus 2 min; written exam and team activity not stated.
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
- Questions30 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 it.
- Poultry Science Manual for National FFA Career Development Events, 7th edition, Instructional Materials Service, Texas A&M University, 2017 (paid book)
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.