SAE: Supervised Agricultural Experience

SAE Grants Are Now Available!

Need some cash to get your SAE off the ground? Apply for a grant!

There are...

• 32, $500 Career Pathway SAE Grants
• 25, $1000 Sponsored SAE Grants

Check out the 2010 Career Pathway Grant application for a list of grants and eligibility requirements.

Questions?

E-mail dsellers@ffa.org

What is a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)?

SAE: Learning by Doing - A Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE) is a key component of agricultural education. While working on an SAE project, students learn to apply the concepts and principles taught in their agriculture classes to real-world problems and scenarios. A student selects an SAE project based on his or her interest in one of four areas:

• Exploratory - Learn about the big picture of agriculture and its many related careers.
• Research/Experimentation and Analysis - Conduct research and analyze information to discover new knowledge.
• Ownership/Entrepreneurship - Plan and operate an agriculture-related business.
• Placement - Work for a business or individual, either for pay or for the experience.

Application Requirement

Directed Lab/SAE Hours:
In reviewing applications for awards and degrees, applicants sometimes present a completely unrealistic number of hours dedicated to directed lab/SAE. In a single year, a person working a full time 40 hour per week job will work a total 2080 hours (52 weeks   X    40 hours  =   2,080). In order to assist students and teachers in evaluating students Directed Lab/Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) hours, it is important to consider the hours a student must also dedicate to school, sleep, etc.  See the directed lab document for further information.

SAE Resources

What is a Supervised Agricultural Experience and judges hints on filling out the Proficiency applications.

Need an idea for your SAE project?

See the SAE Alphabetical Listing. It lists common SAEs and matches them up with their corresponding Agricultural Proficiency Award Areas.

SAE Resources for Agriculture Teachers

Support materials for designing and maintaining a successful SAE program are available. The free materials on this page, such as SAE Central and SAE Best Practices, are provided through funds raised by the National FFA Foundation. Additional materials are available for purchase at Shop FFA.

Note: The National FFA Organization does not select, control or supervise the student's SAE activities.

Program News & Updates

2009 SAE CAREER PATHWAY GRANTS
The 2009 grant application period is closed.

Are you looking for a great way to get money for your SAE?
Look at the Agri-Entrepreneurship award program. There are 3 ways you can get money for your SAE through this program:

• Up to $150 at the chapter level.
• $250 at the state level.
• If named the national winner, you can win $1000 and be recognized at the national convention.

Check out the Agri-Entrepreneurship award program information for more details.