The SAE Field Guide

Quick Recap — Ep. 01

What is an SAE, again?

A Supervised Agricultural Experience is the "learn by doing" part of your ag ed class — a real, ongoing project or job you plan, run, and document, with your teacher checking in along the way.

You plan it

You choose a project tied to your ag interests — from raising livestock to running a small business to working an ag-industry job.

You run it

It happens outside of class time, over weeks, months, or years — not a one-day assignment.

You record it

Hours, income, expenses, and skills gained all get logged — that record book is what turns your work into awards and scholarships.

The Six Types

Pick your packet

Tap a packet to open it up. Every SAE falls into one of these — some members combine two or three over their FFA career.

For Business Minds

Entrepreneurship

You own and operate an agricultural business — you take on the risk and keep the profit (or loss).

+ see examples

Raising and selling market lambs · running a lawn care business · starting an egg or produce stand

⚒

For Hands-On Learners

Placement

You work for someone else — paid or as a structured internship — at an ag-related business or operation.

+ see examples

Working at a vet clinic · farm hand on a local ranch · greenhouse or nursery employee

⚗

For Curious Minds

Research

You design and run an experiment, analyze existing ag data, or invent/build a solution to an ag problem.

+ see examples

Testing fertilizer rates on plot yield · designing a new feeder prototype · analyzing local soil data

🔎

For First-Timers

Exploratory

You explore ag careers broadly — job shadowing, interviews, and short activities before committing to one path.

+ see examples

Shadowing three different ag careers · touring local operations · interviewing ag professionals

🏫

For Team Players

School-Based Enterprise

A group of students runs a business through the ag program itself — everyone shares a role in the operation.

+ see examples

Class-run school greenhouse · student-managed farm store · chapter plant sale

♥

For Community Builders

Service-Learning

You apply ag knowledge to an unpaid project that solves a real need in your school or community.

+ see examples

Building a community garden · teaching ag lessons to elementary students · a pollinator habitat project

Before You Plant

Getting-started checklist

Work through this with your ag teacher before your SAE officially kicks off.

Choose your category

Match it to what you actually want to spend time on — not what sounds impressive.

Step 1

Write 2–3 SMART goals

Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound — one growth goal, one financial or output goal.

Step 2

Get teacher sign-off

Your advisor approves the plan and schedules check-in visits.

Step 3

Set up your record book

AET (agriculturalexperiencetracker.com) is the most common platform — set it up before day one.

Step 4

Log your first entry within a week

Hours, expenses, and a short note — build the habit early so it doesn't pile up.

Step 5

Don't Skip This

Record-keeping basics

Log weekly, not yearly. Ten minutes a week beats a scramble in April.
Track every dollar. Feed, entry fees, equipment, and income — even small stuff adds up in your net worth statement.
Photos count as evidence. Save dated photos of your project — judges and proficiency applications want proof.
Hours matter for degrees. Your Chapter, State, and American FFA Degree requirements are built on logged SAE hours.
Journal the "why." A line about what you learned or a problem you solved is what makes an application stand out later.

SAE types recognized nationally — most members build a combination over time.

FFA Degree levels (Chapter, State, American) that draw directly from your SAE records.

1/wk

Recommended minimum record-book update frequency to stay proficiency-award ready.

Get Featured

Submit your SAE

Running a project you're proud of? Send it in — a handful get pulled for the series each month.

Project Entry Card

Takes about two minutes. We'll reach out on the contact info you give us if yours gets picked.

FORM 002 — SAE-SUB

Got it — thanks for sending your project in! We'll reach out if it's picked for the series.

Don't fill this out:

Your name

FFA chapter / school

SAE category

Email or phone

Instagram / TikTok handle (optional)

Tell us about your project

Link to photos or video (optional)

By submitting, you're okay with your project possibly being featured (with credit) in an episode of the series.