Previous research has shown that motivated youth typically select activities that incorporate existing interests and may influence their career choices. Involvement in the National FFA provides opportunities for youth to develop skills and knowledge through events known as Career Development Events (CDEs). These events are designed to motivate students and encourage leadership and career development. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of participation in CDEs on student motivation and preparation to major in animal science. The study was guided by a researcher-developed instrument, measuring motivation and preparation on a Likert-type scale of 1–5. The sample population was junior (13%) and senior (87%) animal science majors at a southern Hispanic serving institution, enrolled within an advanced animal nutrition course. The instrument had a Cronbach’s alpha posttest reliability of .883, with inter-reliability of .610 for preparation and .887 for motivation. The sample population consisted of 24 students, of which 50% identified as Hispanic and 31% as Caucasian. Out of the 24, 16 had participated in CDEs, resulting in a response rate of 67%.The overall mean scores for motivation were 3.85 (SD= 1.20) and 3.79 (SD = 0.72) for preparation (Scale of 1–5). The highest mean scores were found within the motivation statements, “Competing in CDEs influenced my decision to major in animal science” (M = 4.0) and “Competing in CDEs motivated me to attend college” (M = 3.94). The highest scores for preparation were found within the statement “Competing in CDEs prepared me to be successful in my chosen career” (M = 4.13). Females were found to have higher mean scores overall, with students identifying as Caucasian having a higher mean score over Hispanic students and Seniors scoring slightly higher. Overall the scores were moderate and showed a need for continued study in this area.
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