Hot Springs High FFA Dominates State Competition

Student agriculture teams from across New Mexico converge for annual career development event

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:53pm

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A cubist, geometric painting in shades of green, gold, and blue, depicting the fractured, multi-perspective action of a high school FFA competition.Hot Springs FFA's strong showing at the state CDE competition highlights the depth of agricultural knowledge and skills within the high school's agriculture program.Las Cruces Today

The Hot Springs High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) Chapter had a standout performance at the recent New Mexico State CDEs (Career Development Events) competition in Las Cruces, with their teams placing highly across 22 different events and showcasing the agricultural skills and knowledge of their student members.

Why it matters

The annual state CDE competition is a prestigious event that highlights the top agricultural education programs in New Mexico, drawing hundreds of high school students to compete in hands-on challenges that test their real-world skills. Hot Springs High's strong showing demonstrates the strength of their FFA chapter and the quality of their agricultural curriculum.

The details

Hot Springs High FFA teams competed in 22 different CDE events, including livestock evaluation, agronomy, food science, and agricultural mechanics. The chapter's students earned multiple first-place finishes, as well as several other top-three placements, solidifying Hot Springs as one of the top agricultural education programs in the state.

  • The state CDE competition took place last week in Las Cruces.
  • Hot Springs High School FFA students have been preparing for the state event throughout the school year.

The players

Hot Springs High School FFA Chapter

The high school's chapter of the national Future Farmers of America organization, which provides agricultural education and leadership development for students.

New Mexico State CDEs

The annual state-level Career Development Events competition for high school agricultural education programs in New Mexico.

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What’s next

The Hot Springs High FFA teams that placed highly at the state competition will now advance to represent New Mexico at the National FFA Convention & Expo in October.

The takeaway

Hot Springs High School's FFA chapter has demonstrated its excellence in agricultural education, with students excelling across a wide range of hands-on skills and knowledge competitions at the state level. This success highlights the strength of the school's agricultural curriculum and the dedication of its FFA members.