Every student in an agricultural class is required to participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Students personally choose their SAE, so there is a wide variety of projects at Southwest High School.
Check out a few of the popular SAE Projects in El Centro FFA!
The Feeder Calf project consists of raising a newborn feeder calf that is 115 pounds up till they are around 350 pounds. Throughout this project you will provide bottle feed, grain feed, and ensure they obtain proper nutrients. Once they reach there 300 pound range you then proceed to show the at our local California Mid Winter fair.
The Swine SAE Project usually consists of buying a market hog and raising it to sell after our local county fair. Raising a pig requires feeding, cleaning, and walking. Our chapter head-barnsmen and advisors check on the pigs every week to ensure that they are healthy.
Students have produced different types of gardens to achieve different experiences. Some have grown vegetables; others have grown flowers. Some have tested different soils; others have tested different forms of light. The possibilities are endless!
The rabbit SAE project consists of purchasing a rabbit, learning about the species and showing it Imperial Valley fair. Raising rabbits includes feeding, cleaning, and working with your rabbit. This project is a very fun learning and skill-building experience. Our chapter headbarnsmen teach the members of the rabbit show team and is overseen by the advisors.
Teaching young students within the FFA is a great responsibility that a member will take on. Students help make materials that FFA members will utilize in classrooms or various competitions. They also teach primary and feeder schools about the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives.
In order to give back to our local community many members help and donate their time to local pet shelters. Here students will spend time with the animals and clean/ sanitize there living areas. Students also earn community service, because of the hours they spend working and helping these animals live a good life.
Having the opportunity to raise a sheep as a project in FFA teaches you many lessons. It consists of attending monthly meetings which we weigh, practice showmanship, and examine the health of each sheep on the team. Throughout this experience, our county holds a fair at the end of February which our sheep team attends to show and sell their project they have been raising.
