Supervised Agricultural Experience - Entrepreneurship

        My SAE visit was conducted at the Shippensburg Community Fair on Sunday, July 19th and Tuesday, July 21st. I was extremely impressed, but not surprised, by the preparedness of the students from Big Spring FFA. They had nice looking animals, were dressed for pictures, knew what to do and when, and were very classy in their appearance and verbal language. It was great to recognize some of them from my school visits, but I have to admit the names on their polo shirts did help jog the memory. (A teaching tip I am taking with me) My cooperating teachers shared with me that towards the end of their school year they have their students fill out all the correct paperwork and obtain the information prior to the fair so it is a smooth process when fair comes around.

Big Spring HS 2015-2016 FFA President with her market goat

        On Sunday I weighed-in animals and assisted with taking each FFA members picture with their animal. I really liked the idea of having my students have a picture with their animal to give to their buyers and to have for their SAE books. On Tuesday night I assisted with the market sale. The logistical side of the process was a new exposure for me, but with five efficient and experienced women, I learned the ropes quickly. After the sale closed all three high schools represented at the fair collaboratively worked together to teardown the sale set-up and then they each started taking their sold animals to their designated trucks and cleaning out pens.

Cumberland Valley, Big Spring, and Shippensburg High School Agricultural Educators

        Experiencing the students SAE projects at the end of their project was a great introduction since I will be working with the students at the beginning of their projects next spring. I am now better able to prepare the students for the fair through this SAE exposure. SAE livestock preparation at Big Spring High School is hands off and through a need-based inquiry. Most, if not all, students who show animals started in 4-H and know what they need to know to show properly. If a unique situation arises or a student wants the Big Spring teachers assistance then they make an SAE visit. With Big Spring High School located in a rural and agricultural community many students already have experience with livestock animals and showing is an added benefit. With being hands off, I was impressed with the knowledge both of my cooperating teachers had about each students SAE. In working with the students in class on SAE books and asking about the student's projects, the teachers knew from the student's record books if they were properly inputting resources and time into their animals. This was important to note because a compliant about SAE is all the time you can spend visiting, but in having students keep up with record books, the teacher can utilize it as a learning and monitoring tool.

        SAE is a powerful component to learning. The collaboration and transition between 4-H and FFA in the communities involved at Shippensburg Fair is notable to the success and growth of each student, especially in livestock projects. I am looking forward to learning about other SAE projects Big Spring students have in addition to working with the livestock projects next spring!