FFA members know that Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) are a keystone of the vocational agriculture experience. Many members pour their hearts into their SAEs, and this effort can lead to great recognition.
This is true for twin brothers Cole and Cael Daufeldt, recent alumni of the West Liberty FFA Chapter in Iowa. Both brothers were selected as finalists for the National FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards in their respective categories — Turf and Landscaping Management Proficiency and Poultry Production Proficiency. Cael went on to win the National FFA Poultry Production Proficiency area at the 98th National Convention and Expo in October.
Both brothers spent their FFA careers working hard at their family’s commercial turkey farm, BKBE Farms, and as groundskeepers at West Liberty Golf and Country Club. When it came down to focusing on a proficiency, Cole (pictured above) chose turf management at the country club, while Cael focused on poultry production. As the assistant greenskeeper at West Liberty Golf and Country Club, Cole was proficient in virtually every task needed to maintain the golf course. For Cael, daily work consisted of helping raise 62,000 turkeys annually.
Pushing for Success
Luckily, this meant the brothers would not be competing in the same category, but that didn’t mean they didn’t enjoy some friendly rivalry throughout their high school experiences in FFA and other extracurriculars. “We were always trying to beat each other and always trying to help make each other better in that regard, too,” Cole says.
This push didn’t come just from each other, though. Both brothers recognized the impact one of their FFA advisors, Zach Morris, had on their SAE success. “As eighth graders, our advisor told us that by the end of our senior year, he wanted us to win our proficiency area. So, we knew that throughout high school, we were working towards that,” Cael says.
Their advice for FFA members wanting to excel in their SAEs? “Start as soon as you can,” the brothers say. To the Daufeldts, learning and experiencing as much as possible in their SAEs was crucial to their success. They also believe that SAEs should not be viewed as only work, but as an enjoyable and educational experience.
Taking with them the lessons they learned through FFA and their SAEs, Cole and Cael are currently pursuing their bachelor’s in Ag Business from Iowa State University, and exploring career options on the financial side of agriculture. For Cole and Cael, FFA was just the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of excellence rooted in hard work, family and the future of agriculture.
SAE Excellence
A strong Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) can pave the way for many opportunities down the road, including national awards and recognition. Explore National FFA Agricultural Proficiency Award areas and categories, a full list of the 2025 national winners and more.
