Hounds and Heifers : Ava White’s SAE

Ava sets up her products at an indoor booth.

For many FFA members, supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) are a way to explore interests and develop real-world skills. For Chandler FFA Chapter President Ava White, her SAE has grown into a thriving small business centered around her love for animals. White founded Hounds and Heifers in 2022 as a way to help fund her show cattle SAE. The business focuses on handmade dog accessories, including bandannas and bow ties, along with homemade dog treats designed to be both enjoyable and beneficial for dogs.

“I wanted a way to support my cattle project while also working with animals,” White said.

Since its beginning, Hounds and Heifers has steadily grown. White has expanded her customer base, added new products and used social media to promote her business. The experience has allowed her to build important life skills such as responsibility, time management, communication and record keeping. Like many young business owners, White faced challenges along the way. One of the first challenges was designing products that truly met customer needs.

“When I first started, I made bandannas that only slid onto a dog’s collar,” White explained. “After receiving feedback from customers who had dogs that didn’t wear collars, I redesigned the pattern to make them more versatile.”

Balancing a growing business with school and extracurricular activities has also required careful planning. Keeping up with orders while maintaining her responsibilities as a student and FFA leader helped White strengthen her organization and time management skills. 

Ava’s products sold through Hounds and Heifers.

Throughout her experience, White has also learned how to communicate professionally with customers and manage the many moving parts of a small business. White encourages other FFA members to take their SAE projects seriously and to keep thorough records.

“My advice to other students starting an SAE would be to keep records of everything,” she said. “Whether it’s through AET or writing things down in a notebook, it will be very beneficial later on.” Today, White’s products can be found in a dog grooming location in Edmond, and she hopes to expand into additional locations in the future. She believes there is strong interest from customers in those markets. White credits FFA with helping her succeed.

“FFA has supported my success by helping me develop leadership and record keeping skills while also giving me opportunities to grow through my SAE,” she said.

As she continues to lead the Chandler FFA chapter, White’s business stands as an example of how agricultural education can help students turn creativity and hard work into a successful business.