Chapter 3 Agriculture as a Career 101 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. If all four of these questions can be answered yes, then the project can be considered a viable option for an SAE. Your agricultural science teacher is the expert on this topic. If you have an idea and are not sure it fits the SAE requirements, talk to your teacher and let him or her help you. Because no two students are alike, and SAE programs should be individualized, there are many options for what you can do for your SAE. Each specific project you include in your SAE is called an enterprise. Types of SAEs There are four types of SAEs (Figure 3-3): „ Exploratory „ Research „ Placement „ Entrepreneurship The main differences between SAE types is the nature of resources invested and the outcome of the project. All SAE types require records of the experiences and resources to be kept. Exploratory Exploratory SAEs allow you to invest time in learning something new about the agricultural industry, Figure 3-4. Exploratory SAEs are a great way to learn about an agricultural area before you undertake a full-scale investment of money and resources. The primary investment in an exploratory SAE is time. The records kept on Did You Know? The blue corduroy jacket was adopted as official dress in 1933, when FFA members saw the band from Fredricktown, Ohio, wearing matching jackets to the National FFA Convention. Gus Lintner, the director of the band, is credited with its creation. Do you have an FFA jacket yet? SAE Type Description Investment of Time Money Exploratory Learning something new about the agricultural industry Yes Typically none Research Using the scientific method to analyze a research question Yes Typically none Placement Working for someone else in the agricultural industry Yes No input, may be paid Entrepreneurship Owning and managing an agricultural enterprise Yes Yes, responsible for all cost input and profit Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 3-3. The four types of SAEs have been developed to help you make the most of your current interests and resources. Which type is best for you? wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com Figure 3-4. Exploratory SAEs allow you the opportunity to learn more about a career or special topic in agriculture.