From www.ExploreSAE.com SAE Lessons From www.ExploreSAE.com

Lesson 1

SMART Goals S – Specific M – Measurable A – Approved by you (or also Attainable) R – Realistic T – Time stamped

SMART Goals S – Specific A goal must be as specific as possible. Identify exactly what it is you want to do.

SMART Goals M – Measurable Attaching a date, quantity, or number to a goal holds you accountable for accomplishment. In addition, you are able to assess the progress and results of your hard work.

SMART Goals A – Approved by you. A goal must be determined by you and you alone. You are more likely to put in the time and effort to achieving a goal if it is one you have set for yourself. A – Attainable Goals, especially for groups, should be possible to reach, but also be challenging.

SMART Goals R – Realistic Always shoot for the stars and have high ambitions, but a goal must be within reach. If your goal is not realistic, you will be extremely disappointed each time you fall short. Setting goals that you have the potential to achieve will help you follow through.

SMART Goals T – Time stamped Adding a time or date to a goal you set can assist in holding you accountable and give you a deadline for accomplishment.

Goal Length Short Term Goals – Can be achieved in 1 year or less Intermediate Goals – Achieved in 1-5 years Long Term Goals – Achieved in 5-15 years

SAE Lesson 2

What are some career fields in Agriculture? Agribusiness Management Agricultural Communications Building Construction Management Agriscience Resource Development and Management Parks, Recreation and Tourism Resources Packaging Horticulture Forestry Food Science Animal Science/Livestock Fisheries/Wildlife

Essential Career Skills Education – provides the preparation people need to enter a career; includes high school classes, college courses, technical school, and certifications. People skills – abilities that help people get along well together; includes being courteous, honest, respectful, a good communicator, supportive, and able to solve problems with a group. Experience – having personally done something in a particular job or location to increase expertise in an area.

4 Characteristics of a quality SAE Planned: all SAEs should be carefully planned and hold educational value. SAEs should relate to what the student is learning in class. Planning a SAE can help the student’s project meet their objectives by defining what has to be done. Developed: SAEs should reflect the agricultural and career interests of a student. SAEs should also utilize the resources available to the student. Managed: Records should be carefully kept on SAEs in order to evaluate the progress and performance of the student, both financially and educationally Supervised: Agriculture teachers should supervise and provide help during all stages of the student’s SAE. Teachers should observe and assess a student’s SAE based on quality factors.

Benefits of an SAE Helps in making career and education decisions Develops self confidence Gives practical meaning to courses studied in school Develops job skills Promotes thinking skills Applies record keeping skills Promotes good money management Teaches work ethics Helps develop the ability to assume responsibility Gives practical experience in relating to other people Helps make the transition from school to work Helps achieve FFA awards

Career Goal Setting Career Goal Setting Worksheet FFA Proficiency Award descriptions Student videos from ExploreSAE.com

Lesson 3

Brainstorm Time Two minutes Write down as many ways being in Ag class can help you identify and set goals for a future career as you can think of!

Review the definition of SAE Supervised Agricultural Experience is the part of agriscience education that provides students with the opportunity to gain the experience they need for a successful future career. A wide range of experiences can be had through SAE, helping students explore their areas of interest in agriculture and careers. SAEs allow students to develop specific job skills, earn money, and apply concepts taught in agriscience class. In order to be a SAE, a student’s project must contain the following 4 distinctive characteristics: planned, developed, managed and supervised.

Seven Areas of SAE Interest Agribusiness Systems Animal Systems Environmental Service Systems Food Products and Processing Systems Natural Resources Systems Plant Systems Power, Structural and Technical Systems

Agribusiness Systems Sales Service Landscape Management Processing Home/Community Development Outdoor Recreation Communications Education

Animal Systems Beef Dairy Swine Sheep Goats Poultry Equine Aquaculture Small Animal Wildlife Specialty Animal Veterinarian

Environmental Service Systems Environmental Science Natural Resource Management

Food Products and Processing Systems Food Science

Natural Resources Systems

Plant Systems Grain Crops Fiber/Oil Crops Forage Crops Vegetable Fruit Turfgrass Nursery Operations Floriculture Forestry Specialty Crop Landscape Orchard

Power, Structural and Technical Systems Fabrication Power Repair/Maintenance

Plus One: Leadership, Communication, and Education FFA

Exploratory SAE Video (ExploreSAE.com) Exploratory SAE: allows students to have a wide range of experiences. This type of SAE helps students learn what they want to study more in depth. By exploring many areas, students can make better choices about education and careers. Through exploratory SAEs students can understand and appreciate the field of agriculture. The only investment needed by a student for an Exploratory SAE is TIME. Examples: job shadowing, researching a career, attending a fair/sale, visiting a local agriculture operation, etc. Everyone has an Exploratory SAE where you log your time spent in contest practices or homework activities.

Set up an Exploratory SAE in your AET Record book. Assignment Set up an Exploratory SAE in your AET Record book. Name it “Exploring Ag”.