Supervised Agricultural Experience
In agricultural education, learning has never started and stopped at the classroom door.
From its beginning in the early 1900s, agricultural education has always incorporated an authentic work-based or experiential component. Supervised Agricultural Experience, or SAE, provides students individualized opportunities to learn and develop real-world skills outside of the classroom beyond the school day.
Foundational SAEs
A Foundational SAE is an inspiring cornerstone for every student in the agricultural education program. This immersive experience is thoughtfully designed to incorporate five essential components, each of which plays a critical role in shaping future agricultural leaders:
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Career exploration and planning
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Personal financial management and planning
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Workplace safety
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Employability skills for college and career readiness
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Agricultural literacy and exploration
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The Foundational SAE is a continuous journey that spans a student’s entire enrollment in agricultural education, seamlessly integrating with the immersive experiences they will undertake.
This addition will not only deepen their expertise in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources technical knowledge but also hone essential career readiness skills.
Immersion SAEs
Immersion SAEs are designed to build upon the foundational SAE experiences through real-world applications through:
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Placement/Internship SAE
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Ownership/Entrepreneurship SAE
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Research: Experimental, Analysis or Invention SAE
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School-Based Enterprise SAE
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Service-Learning SAE
By participating in Immersion SAEs, students can significantly enhance their preparation for a successful career.
SAE Spotlight
North Carolina agriculture offers a wide variety of options for students' SAE projects. Check out these SAE Spotlights!
The AET
Today, record keeping is done online through The Agricultural Experience Tracker, or The AET. The North Carolina Agricultural Education team has provided a subscription to The AET for all agricultural education students in North Carolina at no cost. Contact your regional coordinator for help accessing or navigating The AET.
Ag Explorer
Did you know that 1 in 3 people work in agriculture nationwide? Check out Ag Explorer to explore the 255 unique careers in agriculture. Not sure which career may be right for you? Use the interactive Career Finder to help open up a world of possibilities.
