MNW FFA Chapter
SAE
What is SAE?
SAE is an agricultural education program that is made up of three integrated parts: Classroom instruction, FFA, and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
With supervised agricultural experience programs (SAEs), a student designs a year-round program to gain hands-on experience and develop skills in agricultural career areas that interest them. An SAE program is the actual, hands-on application of concepts and principles learned in the agricultural education classroom and maintaining accurate records on the project. Agricultural education teachers supervise students in cooperation with parents, employers, and other adults who assist them in the development and achievement of their educational and career goals. Students with an SAE learn by doing. ALL Agriculture education students will develop and maintain an SAE project.
Components of a SAE Project
Requires an investment of time outside of class time
Relates to Agriculture or the expected future career of the student
Includes some new learning for the student
It is documented, meaning students keep financial and time records on the project
Is supervised by an Ag teacher
YOUR PROJECT SHOULD BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD PUT ON A RESUME
Types of SAE
Foundational - Explore agricultural careers through job shadowing and research.
Placement / Internship - Get a job or internship on a farm or ranch, at an agriculture-based business, or in a school or factory laboratory. This can be a paid or unpaid position
Entrepreneurship / Ownership- Own and operate an agricultural business (e.g. a lawn care service, raising cattle, holiday poinsettia production, and sales.)
Service Learning - Lead and organize community service activities.
Ideas for SAE Projects
Entrepreneurship
Raising Meat Chickens
Selling eggs
Raising cattle/Pigs/Sheep etc.
operating a pet-sitting business
Train houses
Hunting
fishing
trapping
dog breeding business
Dog training business
Raise and sell animals
Raising game birds for dog training
raising fish to stock ponds
operating a custom harvesting business
Animal raising business
operate a lawn mowing business
Sell fruits and vegetables
Start service to clean leaves out of gutters
Hay bailing service
Collect leaves in the fall and sell mulch in the spring
Start a water sample-collecting service
Cut and sell firewood
Sell gourmet popcorn products
Produce and sell baked goods
Process wild game for jerky etc.
Collect and sell wild mushrooms
Sell picked vegetables
Make jams and jellies for farmer's market
Raise wild game
Stock a fish pond
Operate a trapping business
Plant food plots for wildlife
Construct and sell game feeders
Build wildlife houses for use or sale
Sell fish bait
Grow flowers for sell
Grow crops on rented ground
Start a tree pruning business
Start a spraying business
Lawn Mowing business
Grow and sell plants
Raise pumpkins
Provide service to fertilize lawns/ gardens
Restore a tractor
Design and build lawn ornaments
Operate lawn mower repair business
Automotive detailing
Use drone to get photos
Design and sell metal products
Run a custom fence building business
placement
manage aquaculture lab
Create a classroom pet adoption program
Mentor with a taxidermist
Work for a livestock farm
Work as a veterinary assistant
Work for DNR
Work on a dairy farm
Work at a grocery store meat department
Work for a concrete company
Work for a local elevator
Work for a seed corn company
Sales associate for a farm supply store
Work for a feed store
Work for ag marketing or insurance company
Detassel Corn
Work for a turkey farm
Work for a testing laboratory
Work at a bakery
Work at a restaurant
Work for a sweet corn grower
Help at a local fruit/ vegetable stand
Work for a grocery store
Clean and prune orchards
Work for a park service
Work for a grain farmer
Work for a lawn company
Working for a Landscaping Company
Collect soil samples
Work to monitor the school arboretum
Work at a nursery
Work at a golf course
Work at a flower shop
Work for grain elevator
Work for a garden center
Work as a mechanic assistant
Work in a welding shop
Work for a local electrician
Pour concrete
Service Learning
Develop Marshland
Turn school food waste into mulch
Water quality monitoring
Farm safety class for elementary
Start a community garden
Grow food for a food pantry
Service Learning
Develop marshland
Turn school food waste into mulch
Water quality monitoring
Farm safety class for elementary
Start a community garden
Grow food for food pantry
Steps of SAE Projects
1. Do one of the Career Interest Inventories listed below. Can also find on AET site. Show Mr. Gaul results and make sure he records that you have completed it.
• Ag Explorer -
• My Next Move -
• Your school's career planning system
2. Plan your SAE project. Find a project that interests you. Mr. Gaul has resources available to help you determine a SAE project that is right for you. When you have decided on a project fill out the SAE Project Proposal
3. Set up your records by going to Agricultural Experience Tracker and then click on Student on the left. Log in. Our chapter number is "IA0134" your user name is the first letter of your first name and your last name, example "DGaul". To start out your password will be the same. - Instructions for how to set up AET records.
4. Fill out the agreement form page, print, and get signatures. This is due at the end of term.
Directions for filling out agreement form
5. Do work and keep records.
- Instructions for keeping Paid Placement SAE records
- Instructions for keeping Unpaid Placement and Foundational SAE records
- Instructions for keeping Entrepreneurship SAE records
6. Get a picture of your SAE project. The picture should be of you doing something with your project. Can have Mr. Gaul take picture during step 7.
7. Set up a SAE visit. Talk to Mr. Gaul to find a time when you can meet and discuss your SAE program.
End of Trimester
8. On the AET site, go to "Reports" and click on "Degree Application Manager" and then use the drop down to select "Iowa FFA State Degree". Open up the application and fill out the first two questions on the "Project Story" page. and fill out first 3 lines of the "Skills, Compt, Knowledge" page.
- For every trimester after your first, update the Project story page and add 3 more skills.