SAE Central

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a critical activity for student success and a vital component of an agricultural education program. We have resources to help teachers teach about SAE.

Lesson Plans

Teaching SAE lessons in the classroom is a critical step to ensure awareness and initial planning of SAE programs by all students. This is especially true as ag education programs serve more students who aren’t on a traditional, multiple-year career tract in agricultural education.

The following eight lessons and corresponding PowerPoint presentations are developed to engage student interest and involvement in SAEs. These lessons are written with a broad definition of SAE in mind. Review and modify as needed to suit the philosophy of SAE in your program.

Also included are lessons from FFA’s LifeKnowledge® initiative and links to SAE lessons on the Internet at the time of the handbook’s release. The entire field of agricultural education is enriched when multiple, high-quality resources are available to its teachers.

Sample Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan 1: What is a Supervised Agriculture Experience and what are the benefits?
Lesson Plan 2: What are the different types of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE)?
Lesson Plan 3: Where can SAE take me?
Lesson Plan 4: How do you identify a possible career?
Lesson Plan 5: How do you select the right SAE?
Lesson Plan 6: How do you plan and initiate an SAE?
Lesson Plan 7: Why do we keep records?
Lesson Plan 8: How will my SAE be evaluated?

Life Knowledge Lesson Plans

Advance High School

Lesson AHS.50 – Developing Innovative SAEs
Lesson AHS.51 – Conducting a Workshop to Help Others Start SAEs
Lesson AHS.52 – Teaching Others About Your SAE
Lesson AHS.53 – SAE Programs and FFA’s Proficiency Awards

High School

Lesson HS.126 – Taking My Trip
Lesson HS.127 – Choosing My Vehicle
Lesson HS.128 – Managing Your Journey
Lesson HS.129 – Adjusting Your Journey
Lesson HS.130 – Enjoying the Ride – Keeping Fuel In the Tank

Middle School

Lesson MS.68 – Understanding SAEs
Lesson MS.69 – Record Keeping
Lesson MS.70 – Proficiency Awards and SAE

Documenting SAE programs and helping students learn to keep accurate records is important.

Lesson Plan 1 – What is a Budget and How Do We Prepare One?
Lesson Plan 2 – What is a Calendar and How Do We Prepare One?
Lesson Plan 3 – What is a Journal and How Do We Prepare One?
Lesson Plan 4 – What is a Business Agreement and How Do We Prepare One?
Lesson Plan 5 – What is an Inventory?
Lesson Plan 6 – What is a Financial Statement?
Lesson Plan 7 – How Do You Analyze and Summarize Your Records?

Videos

View different videos that allow students to see different types of SAEs and what is involved in each SAE.

Sample Proficiency Awards

Below are samples of high-quality, completed forms for agriculture teachers and FFA advisors to offer students as examples of superior level work for classroom and FFA activities. These samples are not intended to show how to win awards but rather how to effectively communicate about SAE programs, goals and outcomes, especially to those outside of agricultural education and FFA

These samples are not intended to show how to win awards but rather how to communicate about SAE programs, goals and outcomes, especially to those outside of agricultural education and FFA.

Agricultural Communications – Placement
Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems – Placement
Agricultural Processing Entrepreneurship – Example
Agricultural Sales Placement – Example Application
Agricultural Services Placement – Example Application
Beef Production Entrepreneurship – Example Application
Diversified Horticulture Entrepreneurship – Example Application
Diversified Horticulture Placement – Example Application
Diversified Livestock Production Entrepreneurship – Example Application
Environmental Science & Natural Resources Placement – Example Application
Equine Science Placement – Example Application
Floriculture Placement – Example Application
Food Science and Technology Placement – Example Application
Forest Management & Products – Placement
Home and Community Development – Placement
Landscape Management Placement – Example Application
Nursery Operations Placement – Example Application
Outdoor Recreation Placement – Example Application
Sheep Production Entrepreneurship – Example Application
Small Animal Production & Care Placement – Example Application
Speciality Crop Production Entrepreneurship – Example Application
Turf Grass Management Entrepreneurship – Example Application

American Degree Example and Helpful Hints

Agriscience Examples & FFA Scholarship Examples

Common Skills

Common Skills and Proficiencies

SAE Visits and Assessments

The term “Supervised Agricultural Experience” strongly implies this activity is to be supervised. The supervision normally (but not always) is done by the agriculture teacher.

Assessment Tools

Combining SAE programs in the academic assessment of students’ success in the agriculture classroom can be a challenge, and with today’s emphasis on standards and testing quality, assessment tools are necessary. Use these tools for your program, or as starting blocks to build your own. Also included is a summary of research between SAE programs and student success to use as a reference when discussing the issue with parents and administrators.

Sample Assessments

Grading Policy Samples

Additional Resources

SAE Ideas

SAE Fact Sheets

Record Keeping System Samples

Introduction to Samples
Utah State Sample
NC State Sample
Central Cabarrus High School Samples
Randolph High School Sample
- SAE Sample Form

Involving Partners & Volunteers

Best Practices for Including and Utilizing Partners and Volunteers