SAE Basics

SAE stands for Supervised Agricultural Experience. It's a unique project in agricultural education designed to provide students with hands-on experience outside of school hours. Students choose an agricultural-related project to work on and document their progress throughout the experience.

Students have the freedom to choose their SAE project based on their interests or existing hobbies. If the project is agricultural, they can continue with activities they're already engaged in or explore new ideas. The project could involve anything from raising animals to managing a garden or exploring agricultural technology. There are 4 types of SAE that range from hands-on work, job shadowing, research, exploration, or conducting an experiment. Keep in mind that all SAEs must be agricultural. If a student is unsure if something they want to do is agricultural, they can ask Mrs. Hartley for help.

Students document their SAE project using the SAE Record Book provided by their teacher on Google Classroom. This includes recording project descriptions, goals, visual evidence (photos), summaries, reflections, and skills learned. Additionally, students maintain a Work Log to track the time they spend on their project tasks.

Grading for the SAE project is divided into several components. Students receive grades for their SAE Plan, Check Points throughout the project, the final Record Book submission, and their presentation at the SAE Expo. Each component is a major grade and contributes to the overall assessment of the project.

The SAE Expo provides students with an opportunity to showcase their projects and share their experiences with a wider audience. It typically takes place at the end of the semester or academic term. Students set up displays to present their projects, and guests, including classmates, parents, school staff, and community members, are invited to interact with students and learn about their SAE experiences. Each student receives feedback and a grade from an evaluator during the Expo.

It is the student's responsibility to make changes to their SAE Plan, Record Book, or Work Log to improve their grade or remove the 'missing' from the grade book. It is also the student's responsibility to request a regrade for checkpoints in person and during class. Do not email Mrs. Hartley requesting a regrade.  The only grade that can not be altered is the SAE Expo as this is a one-day live event. If a student is absent for their SAE Expo, they need to ask Mrs. Hartley what to do to make up the grade. (SAE Expo grades are time-sensitive since they are hosted in the last weeks of the semester/9 weeks.)