Unlocking SAE Opportunities: All About Supervised Agriculture Experiences

1. What is an SAE? • All In One Lessons from One Less Thing The Supervised Agriculture Experience Georgia MSAGED8-1: Students will identify the three main parts of the agricultural education program. Georgia MSAGED8-2: Students will develop an understanding of the FFA organization.

2. What is an SAE? • It is a: • Supervised • Agriculture • Experience • You will do this project on your own time outside of class. • This is to gain experience in the real world, apply knowledge, and learn responsibility. • Choose something that you are interested in and will enjoy doing.

3. First Choose Your SAE Type • Exploratory • Placement • Entrepreneurship • Research

4. Exploratory • research an area of agriculture that is interesting to you • determine career opportunities in that field • examples: beekeeping, landscape architect, marine welder

5. Placement • do agricultural related work for someone • keep track of hours and skills • could be paid or unpaid • examples: volunteer at a vet office, work at a horse barn, do landscape work for family or neighbors

6. Entrepreneurship • do your own agriculture-related project or develop a business • invest time and money in materials • keep or sell the resulting project • examples: build a bench or dog house, fix a lawnmower or tractor, start a pet-sitting service

7. Research • conduct an agriculture-related experiment (like a science fair project) • develop a theory and test it • record results • example: test different fertilizers on plant growth

8. All SAE Projects Must... • receive the instructor’s approval • be related to agriculture • take at least 50 hours to complete • have a record of time spent and materials used • have at least 5 photos of the student completing the project • Tip: Don’t Wait to Get Started!

9. Hours • At least 2 hours of research on what you want to do and is it possible. • At least 10 hours of research • At least 30 hours on project • At least 5 hours on paperwork • At least 3 hours presentation

10. Ideas • plant a vegetable garden • make a walking path/build stepping stones • make a compost bin • build a picnic table, flower box, birdhouse, or doghouse • build or repair a fence • construct a deer stand, duck or bat nesting box, or animal trap • develop wildlife habitat or food plot • raise and care for a an animal • build shelves, a bookcase, or toolbox

11. More Ideas • rake pine straw • start a pet-sitting or pet-exercise service • repair equipment (lawnmowers, tractors, chainsaws) • cut firewood; sell firewood • make an insect collection • make and press a tree or flower collection • create floral designs • create holiday arrangements • volunteer at a vet’s office • work at a horse barn • volunteer at a feed store or garden center • shadow an electrician or small engines mechanic • THINK OF YOUR OWN IDEA!

12. More Ideas • Volunteer to teach about agriculture • Develop a community service project and see it through • Grow a crop in the greenhouse • Develop a cook book of family recipes, print it and sell it • cut grass or do other landscape maintenance • clear yard debris • plant flowers or trees • Log fishing time and bait used – fishing time of day and best bait for each time.

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18. Any Question? • When can you start? – after your idea has been approved. • Do you have to spend money? – no, find a project that works for you