SAE

What is an SAE

The SAE project allows students to gain real world experience in the activities of the agriculture industry while building skills in organization, record keeping, decision-making, and analysis. The project is designed by the individual student and is completed outside of regular class time with assistance from the agricultural instructor along with other adult mentors. The information below outlines the guidelines for the project and how it should be completed.

• The SAE program is one of three components of Agricultural Education. This segment provides the student with additional hands-on experience in any area of agriculture of the student’s choosing. The project should contain at least 20 documented hours of activities relating to agriculture.

• SAEs can include home or community improvement projects (landscaping, vegetable gardening, floral arrangements, food processing, fence or compost bin construction, etc.), job placement (for wages or experience), agriscience research investigations, entrepreneurship (start your business), directed lab activities after school (greenhouse, turf research, etc.) or agricultural communications (topical magazines, website development, etc.). The best projects are those that can be continued and expanded in the coming years.

• The student will choose a project and develop a plan. The plan will consist of a summary of what he or she will be working on throughout the semester, and a list of needed resources to complete the project. The plan will need to be signed by the student, parent(s)/guardian, other involved adults (for example – an employer or landowner who provides space for a garden) and the instructor.

• A plan outlining the project must be submitted to the instructor before approval can be given to start the project.

• When the instructor has approved the plan, the student will receive record keeping information and can begin work. The student will use an online record book to keep up with his/her project’s records (journal hours, income, expenses, inventory, pictures and personal resume). The student will have access to this online record book in class during certain times of the semester as well as outside of class time using any internet connection. The web address is: http://www.theaet.com. Systematic instruction for using the record book will be taught during class time.

• The student will keep detailed records of his/her activities – hours, skills used, new skills learned, earnings, inventory, etc. A minimum of 2 Quality journal entries will be recorded. He/she will also need to take a minimum of 10 pictures of him/her working on the project.

We will wok on this project Every Monday once we cover the material.
The student can schedule time outside of the Monday SAE time to get assistance with his or her project.
The final report will be presented in class using the online record keeping system and some type of visual aid (Google Slides, Canva, etc../ actual final product).
The teacher will check the student’s records periodically throughout the semester using the online record book to ensure the student’s understanding and completion of the project.
This will also be one option for the Final Exam, with the other being a 100 question test covering the entire course.