SAE

What is a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)? 

America’s  agriculture  industry  and  education  system  has  changed  dramatically  since  Rufus  Stimson  launched  the  first  official  SAE,  called  a  “Home  Project”  around  1910.  It  is  unlikely  that  he  could  have  imagined agricultural education programs with 25-30 students per class for seven periods a day, where most students do not live on a farm or ranch.

The diversity of students served by today’s programs requires a new definition and approach to SAE, one that aligns SAE with 21st Century learners. Changes include new types of SAEs, a new approach to supervision,  and  a  focus  on  measurable  learning  outcomes  rather  than  only  dollars  earned  or  hours  documented.  However,  the  fundamentals  remain  the  same,  an  SAE  must  be  supervised,  related  to  agriculture and provide a rich and meaningful work-based or experiential learning experience.

Thus, this definition was formed: 

• Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a student-led, instructor supervised, work-based learning experience that results in measurable outcomes within a predefined, agreed upon set of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Technical Standards and Career Ready Practices aligned to a career plan of study.