112 Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Career Connection Your SAE is an essential part of your agricultural education experience, but what can it do for you after high school? Many agricultural education students have taken their SAE enterprises and turned them into businesses that support them financially. Exploratory, Research, and Placement SAEs can give you valuable experience that will make you more marketable as an employee in fields related to your SAE category. Entrepreneurship SAEs can also give you employment skills, which you could use to grow your SAE into a productive and successful full-time business venture. Some of the most common examples of SAEs that easily translate into viable companies include landscaping businesses and livestock operations. Landscaping Business: One of the most easily transferrable businesses that many FFA members use as their adult career are landscaping businesses. These business owners have taken their high school business and built it into a thriving, full-time employment for themselves. Can you think of some of the benefits of proper SAE setup for those who plan to continue their venture after high school? Livestock Operations: Many students begin with small numbers of animals during their SAE, and are able to build their enterprise to be large enough to raise animals full-time after high school. These students can then pursue livestock management as a suitable means of income to fund their education, or as a full-time source of employment income. There are many other ways that your SAE can grow into something much more than just a high school project. In your SAE planning, think not only about how your SAE can play a role in your life today, but in your future. What Can Your SAE Do for Your Future? Pixsooz/Shutterstock.com Providing professional service to your customers will ensure a solid customer base. Written estimates will help you keep track of accurate and profitable job quotes. Nate Allred/Shutterstock.com Raising animals during your SAE will provide you with valuable experience you can apply to your advanced education and future agricultural employment.