SAE- Supervised Agricultural Experience project is a requirement of being enrolled in an Agriculture course. During this project, students will gain and exhibit leaderships skills such as responsibility, time management, and care. Students are required to participate in a SAE project, completing 45 hours of work or time with their project. Following their project, students are required to complete an FFA Record Book, recording all work, expenses, and profit involved with their project. Students' SAE project and Record Book will serve as 10-20% of their grade, depending on their instructor.
Types of SAE Projects
Rabbits
Advisor: Mrs. Kuhr
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"Hello! My name is Kjori Murakami and this will be my third year showing Market Rabbits. I am a fourth year member as well as the Chapter Historian. I decided to show rabbits my sophomore year to further my knowledge about different breeds, nutrition and develop new showmanship skills! Last year I put in lots of practice to up my showmanship game and was able to receive 7th place in advanced showmanship! As this is my final year I plan to raise and sell a Meat Pen! My goals for this upcoming fair season is to do even better than I did in showmanship and continue to learn about this furry species! "
-Kjori Murakami, 12th Grader |
Swine
Advisor: Mr. Mua
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"Hi I’m Hannah Fernandes this is my third year showing swine. And also my third year in FFA. Showing swine has been such a fun experience for me. My first year I knew nothing and now that it’s going to be my third year I have more knowledge of what it’s all about. I keep my pig at my grandparents house and every morning and every evening I go out to feed and to work with my pig getting him ready for fair. By working with him you start walking him and growing a bond with your pig. Raising a pig has taught me a lot of responsibility because now you’re not just taking care of yourself you also have an animal to care for. If you’re ever not sure about showing a pig just do it and I promise you won’t regret it!! "
- Hannah Fernandes, 11th Grade |
Beef
Advisor: Mrs. Abraham
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"Hi my name is Katelyn Huie. I am a senior at Merced High School, and it is my fourth year in the Merced FFA Program. I have been around cattle my whole life and this will be my third year showing cattle at the Merced County Fair. I did have to show swine my sophomore year because my replacement heifer did not get pregnant in time. Raising, showing, and selling beef cattle is very rewarding to me because it is something I have been exposed to my whole life. Cattle is far different and far more difficult than any other project because of their size and when it comes to halter breaking and trying to teach them to lead. Practicing showmanship and getting them to learn how to place their feet is also difficult. Raising cattle has taught me the importance of responsibility and patience. You are in charge of another life and have to feed it every morning and night because they can not feed themselves. This project is very rewarding overall and I encourage everyone to try it out!"
-Katelyn Huie, 12th Grader |
Dairy
Advisor: Mrs. Abraham
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"Hey! I’m Serendipity Burelson, last year was my first year showing a dairy replacement heifer and I will be doing the same project this year for my SAE! When I told my advisor I had an interest in showing dairy I knew it was going to be a huge step for me considering I showed a lamb my freshman year. I realized over the year working on my project how much passion and how much I truly loved working with dairy cattle threw this experience! My first year I was able to gain so much experience and knowledge about my SAE and the dairy industry as a whole. I was introduced to Mike Altomare last year through my last dairy advisor and he is where I am able to keep my dairy heifer at this year as well as I did last year, along with 2 other dairy heifers. I feed every morning and every evening and spend hours in the evening working with my heifer. By creating a bond with your animal it helps you work better overall and will let your animal get more used to you and ready for fair. Whether it is tying up, walking, practicing showmanship, or even washing. This project has taught me many things on top of knowledge on dairy itself it has helped me with time management, responsibilities, and respect for animals. This project requires you to put in a lot of time, effort, and passion but it really is worth it in the end! "
-Serendipity Burelson, 11th Grader |
Goats
Advisor: Mrs. Cecil
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“Hi my name is Bianca Trindade and this is my second year in FFA, I have shown market goats for five years now with my local 4H club and last year with Merced FFA. Over the past years, I have gained so much knowledge about goats and their health. Showing a goat with Merced FFA gives you the chance to keep it at the school in our school farm. Having the opportunity to keep my goat at the school farm last year was so convenient and made my life so much easier. In the morning, I’d go to the school at a normal time and feed before class, and after school I would stay an hour or two and feed and work with it. Goats are the perfect animal if you are interested in showing for the first time, they help you learn responsibly by taking good care of your goat on a daily basis and they help you gain a better patience by working with them everyday until they are used to you and will work with you. And if you’re like me you might fall in love with them and want to continue raising them.”
-Bianca Trinidade, 10th Grade |
Sheep
Advisor: Mrs. Cecil
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"Hi I am Leah Vang. This is my 2nd year in FFA and I show sheep. Raising a sheep has taught me how to be more responsible and it has also taught me many skills about how to take care of an animal. It is an amazing experience because you get to show your sheep at the Merced County Fair, win many ribbons, and meet many new people."
-Leah Vang, 11th Grader |
