SAE is an acronym – that has turned into a word – – that gets thrown around in the Ag/Hort Building very frequently. To new students, or anyone who has never taken an AG class, it feels like a very daunting prospect to plan an SAE when they don’t even know what it is. So, I’m here to answer the question – What is an SAE?

SAE stands for Supervised Agricultural Experience. A student picks a topic or project to research or develop, and they log their experience and time online via the AET (Agricultural Experience Tracker) website. It allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom into real life scenarios that they can use in future jobs. It helps students to learn what FFA, agriculture, and horticulture is really about!

As an example, many students in the Ag/Hort Building take classes in the shop. Maybe their SAE is on a car they’re fixing up a woodworking project. A greenhouse student may have an SAE on their own plants at home, or some they grow in the Ag/Hort Building. Some students even have an SAE on the animals they take care of up in the barn, like chickens, rabbits, and goats.

SAEs can also be rewarded. Every month, the SAE Committee, made up of students, picks out a student who has an interesting or impressive SAE, and they get an article written about their project for The Station! It’s a way of sharing progress, and inspiring other students for their own SAEs.

Overall, an SAE is an experience that a student can get outside of their usual learning environment. It’s crucial to the learning process for those who want to pursue an agricultural job after they graduate and an amazing opportunity. Don’t pass it up!

For those interested in applying for SAE of the Month, Click Here!