Dear Agricultural Student,

Your name appears on my class roll for next semester. I'm looking forward to having you in class.

There are two unique aspects of our agricultural education program. One is FFA and the other is SAE. FFA is a leadership laboratory where students practice and apply leadership skills. All students are expected to be in the FFA. In the FFA you will get to go on trips, participate in competitive activities, attend workshops and conventions, and develop leadership skills. Research indicates the leadership skills you learn in FFA will still be useful years from now.

The other unique aspect is a program called Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). A SAE program is a series of activities done outside of class time in which you obtain "hands on" experience in agriculture. Instead of just talking about agriculture or reading books, you actually do things. In a SAE program you can work in a greenhouse, observe agriculturists working, raise animals, plant trees, design landscapes, conduct agricultural experiments, work in an agribusiness, grow plants, or do a variety of other things. You learn about agriculture by actually participating in it. All students are involved in the SAE activities.

There are a number of reasons why you have a SAE program. As a result of participating in a SAE program you can:

· Develop skills that can be used in getting a job

· Earn money

· Win FFA awards (FFA proficiency awards are based on your SAE)

· Develop skills to start your own business

· Obtain skills and knowledge that will be helpful in college

· Learn more about possible careers

· Develop management skills

· Learn how to keep accurate records

· Advance in the FFA (FFA degrees are based on your SAE)

· Improve decision making skills

· Develop skills that can be used as a hobby or for recreation.

You will learn how to organize and conduct a SAE program in your agriculture class. The SAE is a bridge between where you are and where you can be in agriculture. Best wishes for the future.

Sincerely,

Your Agriculture Teacher