I’m never going to get a job!!! At every interview they want someone with experience! How on earth am I supposed to get experience without getting a job first? What can I do?

What or who is an S.A.E??

An S.A.E. is a cognitive and hands on learning experience where students learn, practice, expand, and enhance the agricultural and natural resources skills learned in the classroom or laboratory.

How will an S.A.E. help me in my FFA chapter?

An S.A.E. is necessary to advance in the FFA program and to obtain most of your degrees.

To be a National of State FFA officer you need your National and/or FFA degrees, which you need an S.A.E. to get.

An S.A.E. can get you proficiency awards and money at many different FFA levels.

How will an S.A.E. help me in life outside of FFA?

An S.A.E. allows you the opportunity to learn new skills and possibly make money at the same time.

Being in charge of your own S.A.E., can teach you responsibility and managerial skills.

Allows you to prepare to open your own business and improves your decision making skills.

There are different types of S.A.E.’s to fit different types of people.

EntrepreneurshipPlacementResearchExploratoryImprovementSupplemental

Entrepreneurship

In an entrepreneurship S.A.E., the student is in charge of almost anything. The student plans and operates a farming activity or agribusiness. The student owns all the materials, keeps fiscal records, and assumes all of the financial risks concerned with their S.A.E.

Entrepreneurship S.A.E. Examples

Owning and operating a lawn care businessOwning and operating a hen house/selling

the eggsRaising a crop of roses for local floristGrowing an acre of corn, wheat, soy, etc.Owning and operating a small community

greenhouse

Placement

In a placement program, students can be placed in a variety of situations: farms, agribusinesses, etc. The main purpose of a placement S.A.E. is to create a “learning by doing” environment, and can also be done is school or community facilities. A placement S.A.E. is not done in the classroom and can be paid, but doesn’t have to be.

Placement S.A.E. Examples

Working on a livestock/crop farmInterning at a local agribusinessBeing placed at an outdoors recreation

park/camping groundsCaring for the plants in the local

greenhouse

There are two types of Research S.A.E.’s

Experimental

Non-Experimental

Experimental Research

Experimental research allows students a “hands-on” opportunity in learning new knowledge, using the scientific method, and showing scientific ideals in agriculture. In experimental research, students plan and carry out a major experiment in agriculture using the scientific method.

Experimental Research S.A.E. Examples

Analyzing the effectiveness of different fertilizers on plant growth

Comparing three different plant foods on plant development

Determining which of three weed controls are most effective

Determining what diet for a calf will result in the best growth and optimum strength

Non-Experimental Research

In a non-experimental research S.A.E., students select a problem in the agriculture community that does not require experimentation, and make plans to investigate the problem to find a solution. The student must research data from many sources and then present some sort of a finished product.

Non-Experimental Research S.A.E. Examples

An area use plan for the school greenhouseWorking out an advertising campaign for

the county fairWorking out a recycling plan for your

community

Exploratory

Exploratory S.A.E.’s are primarily for beginners. They are designed to help students better understand agriculture and become aware of careers in the agriculture industry.

Exploratory S.A.E. Examples

Assisting on a livestock farm for a weekObserving a veterinarian at workTake an agriculture class in high school or

at a local collegeInterview an agriscience teacher about

their experiences in agricultureAttend an FFA National Convention’s Job

Fair

Improvement

In an improvement S.A.E., the prerogative of the student is to improve the value and/or appearance of their workplace, school, home, or community. Students can also increase the efficiency of a business or the condition of the home life. An improvement S.A.E. cannot be done in one day due to the number of steps it takes to complete the project.

Improvement S.A.E. Examples

Building a school or community greenhouse

Landscaping a community centerOverhauling a car or tractorReorganizing a garageBuilding and whitewashing a fence

Supplementary

A supplementary S.A.E. is always accomplished in one day and requires very few steps. The student is to perform one specific agriculture skill at a time outside of class. This certain skill is not a major S.A.E., but involves experiential learning and does contribute to the development of agricultural skills and knowledge on the part of the student.

Supplementary S.A.E. Examples

Mowing the lawn of neighborsArtificial inseminating a cowPruning a tree or bushPlanting a treePicking vegetables from a garden

S.A.E.

Leadership

Agriculture

TravelingMaking New

Friends

Public Speaking

Contests

Parliamentary Procedure

Teamwork

Self-Improvement

Conventions

Banquets

FUN!!!!

Teaching

Pride

Tradition

Blue

Gold

S.A.E. – A Big Part of FFA