Supervised Agricultural Experiences. They are a crucial part of Agricultural Education, the experiential learning tool for students to explore careers, master skills, and supplement their learning outside of the classroom but they are often undervalued.
SAEs can allow students to grow in so many ways, often through their own work and exploration. They allow students to become more responsible, earn income, job shadow, gain experience in their areas of interest, pursue hobbies, and so much more! Seriously, SAE can be an amazing educational tool and can really take the growth of a student to the next level.
This week, I had the chance to visit a student's SAE program and learn more about how SAEs are used at Penns Manor. The student raises hogs to show at fairs and jackpot shows, sell to the community, and breed to sell the piglets for other students to show. She currently has a sow that is due to farrow in March, a gilt that she will show, a boar that she will use for breeding, and a barrow that she showed and is now selling to a neighbor to butcher.
As we visited her, she explained some of the challenges she has faced and how she is working through them. She also shared with us her plans for the animals and what direction she plans to take her SAE. Mr. Hughes asked her lots of questions and discussed the health and productivity of her animals with her. It was great to observe this visit and see how students at Penns Manor are getting involved with SAEs. Raising livestock to show is a very common project for students here to use as an SAE and is one that I am familiar with.
I am excited for my next visit as we plan to visit a student in his Placement SAE on a local dairy farm!
This week, I had the chance to visit a student's SAE program and learn more about how SAEs are used at Penns Manor. The student raises hogs to show at fairs and jackpot shows, sell to the community, and breed to sell the piglets for other students to show. She currently has a sow that is due to farrow in March, a gilt that she will show, a boar that she will use for breeding, and a barrow that she showed and is now selling to a neighbor to butcher.
As we visited her, she explained some of the challenges she has faced and how she is working through them. She also shared with us her plans for the animals and what direction she plans to take her SAE. Mr. Hughes asked her lots of questions and discussed the health and productivity of her animals with her. It was great to observe this visit and see how students at Penns Manor are getting involved with SAEs. Raising livestock to show is a very common project for students here to use as an SAE and is one that I am familiar with.
I am excited for my next visit as we plan to visit a student in his Placement SAE on a local dairy farm!
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteAwesome visit, I am sure! SAEs are a great way to make deeper connections with students, and I know you are learning that as you build rapport with all of your students. Keep up the great work, and I can't wait to see your next visit update!
-Dr. Ewing
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteOne thing to keep in mind as you mentally design for your future program. Documentation and recordkeeping are key. I wonder if we capture the great advice Mr. Hughes was providing anywhere so that in a few month we can revisit the suggestions and see if progress has been made.
Records for an SAE can both mean students individual financial records and supervision visit records. It can be really cool to review 4 years of visits and suggestions (sometimes, the advice is academic related as opposed to project related) with a senior!
Make that AET work for you as a powerful e-learning tool!