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New FFA event designed for members with disabilities

Indiana FFA is creating a new career development event to reach more FFA members.

Amanda Mullins, the assistant director of leadership and development says the Unified Horticulture CDE is designed for members with disabilities.

“Students with pretty severe intellectual disabilities did our fun chapter things, but it really dawned on me that they never really got to compete in anything in FFA,” she says. “They weren’t getting the well-rounded experience that their fellow FFA members were.”

She says it’s modeled after the traditional Horticulture CDE.

“They identified items, such as fruits and vegetables if they were edible for humans and safe to eat,” she says. “They did a couple of judging classes where we gave them a set of four apples and they had to place them best to worst in their mind. We did the same thing with the bananas.”

Mullins says creating an inclusive program reaching additional members highlights the core mission of Indiana FFA.

The inaugural event was held earlier this year and the organization has plans to make it an annual event.

AUDIO: Amanda Mullins, Indiana FFA