Work-Based Learning, Future Careers and Long-Term Goal Setting of FFA Members

This report includes results from a group of FFA members surveyed in early 2024. It focuses on supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) and members’ reported career plans. SAEs allow students to apply agricultural skills and knowledge taught in the classroom to real-world experiences.

FFA members’ involvement with SAEs lays the foundation for future career success

68% (N=283) of surveyed members told us that they have an SAE. This aligns with nationwide labor trends: 37% of 16-19-year-olds are employed or seeking employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹

After-high-school plans and career ambitions vary for members with SAEs

Of the 283 members who told us they have an SAE:

• 44% say they plan to pursue a career or college/vocational program in the same study area as their SAE.
• 2 in 3 say they plan to attend a four-year university, while 16% say they plan to attend a two-year college/technical program.
• 30% say the Animal Systems Career Pathway best describes their career ambitions.
• 11% say the Agribusiness Systems Career Pathway best describes their career ambitions.

Goal setting: Members with SAEs reported their ability to work on long-term projects

Of the 283 members who told us they have an SAE:

• Over half (51%) say they are extremely likely to continue to pursue one of their current goals over the next several years.
• 30% said that if they fail to reach an important goal, they are extremely likely to try again.
• 1 in 4 members (28%) said that if they have a problem while working toward an important goal, they can keep working extremely well.
• 1 in 4 members (28%) said that they stay focused on the same goal for several months at a time extremely often.
• 40% said that when working on a project that matters a lot to them, they can stay extremely focused when there are a lot of distractions.

Why this matters: Given the long-term nature of SAEs, it is not surprising that FFA members who say they have an SAE report strong abilities to stick to set goals and work on long-term projects without distractions.

Supporting work-based learning: 383 SAE Grants were awarded in 2023

SAE Grants are available to start or expand member SAEs. Each year, National FFA corporate partners and individual donors pledge to award a certain number of grants within each SAE Grant Pathway/Focus Area.

• 185 grants (48%) were awarded in the Animal Systems pathway.
• 63 grants (16%) were awarded in the Agribusiness Systems pathway.
• 52 grants (14%) were awarded in the Plant Systems pathway.
• 83 grants (22%) were awarded in other pathways.²

To learn more about SAE Grants, email saegrants@ffa.org.