SAE – 31×24 (Poster)
This is an informational reference handout from the National FFA Organization explaining the types of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). It describes the Foundational SAE as a starting point for all students and outlines the five Immersion SAE types—Service-Learning, School-Based Enterprise, Research-Based, Placement/Internship, and Ownership/Entrepreneurship—with example activities for each.
At a glance
- Foundational SAE
- A Foundational SAE is a starting place for all students and should lead to one or more of the Immersion SAE types and continue alongside. Explore agriculture and plan for a career, include personal financial management planning and learn about workplace safety for a career you find interesting. Try: Taking a career interest assessment (for instance, check out FFA.org/AgExplorer); Job shadowing an employee at an agricultural business; Researching and reporting on an agricultural career; Visiting an agricultural business to observe, interview the owner/manager. (NOTE: Not all Foundational SAE activities will contribute to earning FFA awards and degrees.)
- Service-Learning Experience SAE
- Work with other students, or on your own, to research a need, develop a plan and get approval to provide a free service to your school, community or the world (i.e., not for yourself or for your FFA chapter). Stay related to agriculture. Try: A food collection drive; A farm safety education workshop; Creating a community garden; Providing a free website for the community to buy/sell locally produced food and ag products.
- School-Based Enterprise SAE
- Work with other students to create/run a business using your school's or chapter's equipment or facilities to provide goods or services. Try: Raising livestock for sale; Building fence panels for sale; Turning the greenhouse into a cooperative to sell corsages; Creating websites for local agricultural businesses.
- Research-Based SAE
- Investigate, experiment, analyze and/or invent agricultural materials, processes and information or test existing ones. Try: Testing different types of welds; Inventing new feed rations to improve animal health; Analyzing the effects of new agricultural regulations; Experimenting on how to change public perceptions about agriculture.
- Placement/Internship SAE
- Work for an agricultural business or nonprofit. Work can be paid or unpaid. Try: Working at a farm/pet supply store; Reporting for the local paper's agriculture section; Working for a florist; Interning at a veterinary clinic.
- Ownership/Entrepreneurship SAE
- Own and operate an agricultural business providing goods and/or services. Make the decisions and take the risks. Try: Starting a lawn care service; Selling animals or livestock; Selling subscriptions to your own agriculture podcast; Creating and repairing garden/farm/lawn tools and equipment.