Student PrOjecTs

What is a SAE?

Woman interacting with a large, light-colored cow lying on the ground in an open field under a clear blue sky.

Two young men standing outdoors, one holding a tray of fresh lettuce, with a neighborhood of houses and trees in the background.

At Sonoma FFA, every agriculture student completes a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)—a hands-on project outside the classroom that helps develop skills in responsibility, time management, and record keeping.Whether students live on land or not, the Sonoma FFA program and school farm gives members the opportunity to explore agriculture in a way that’s meaningful, manageable, and impactful. There are three types of SAEs: Entrepreneurship SAE, Placement SAEs & Research SAEs.

Entrepreneurship SAE

Students own and operate their own agriculture-related project or business.

Examples at Sonoma FFA:

Raising and showing a market hog, goat, rabbit, or poultry for the Sonoma County Fair
Growing and selling flowers, produce, or eggs through the school’s farm stand
Owning and/or managing livestock breeding or dairy project.

Placement SAE

Students gain work experience by being employed or volunteering in an agricultural setting.

Examples at Sonoma FFA:

Working at a local vineyard, feed store, nursery, or dairy
Assisting in animal care and daily operations on the school farm
Interning with an ag teacher, vet clinic, or local farm during the summer

Research SAE

Students plan and conduct a scientific experiment related to agriculture.

Examples at Sonoma FFA:

Testing plant growth under different lighting conditions in the greenhouse
Studying feed efficiency in different livestock rations
Researching different fertilizers impact on garden productivity

Our SChOOL FARM

At Sonoma FFA’s five-acre school farm, students bring their learning to life by raising animals and growing crops based on their interests, goals, and experience levels. From livestock and poultry to vegetables and flowers, our students manage real agricultural projects using on-site barns, garden beds, and greenhouse space. Products are sold through our student-run farm stand, and we proudly collaborate with other departments—like Culinary Arts—by raising ingredients used in their recipes. It’s hands-on, cross-curricular learning with purpose.

MARKET LAMBS
MEAT BIRDS
RABBITS

SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
Jamie Kokot

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Karl Holland

SALES MANAGER

A young man with curly hair taking the temperature of a brown calf using an infrared thermometer in a barn or farm setting.

Market Lambs

Two women, one young girl, and several children are at a livestock show, with the woman on the right wearing a large straw hat and striped shirt, and the girl in the center wearing a dark jacket with a 4-H emblem and holding a ribbon. They are beside a white animal, possibly a pig, and there is a wooden backdrop with decorative text.

A young woman with long hair and a serious expression is holding a pig with black and pink patches while participating in a pig show or competition. She is wearing a navy jacket with a badge and white pants. Around her, there are other young people and adults, some taking photos or observing, and some wearing navy jackets with yellow embroidery, indicating they are part of a team or organization. The setting appears to be an outdoor arena with sandy ground, metal fencing, and numbered signs.

Market Hog

A group of children gathered around a young man planting or tending to sprouted plants in a garden or farm bed.

Two young men holding chickens outdoors, with farm structures and a clear sky in the background.

Meat Birds

Close-up of a brown and white puppy with floppy ears inside a kennel.

Breeding Swine

Market Garden

Steers

A young woman holding a leash with a calf at an outdoor farm or petting zoo on a sunny day.

Two young women outdoors, each with a chicken on their shoulder, smiling at the camera. One woman wears denim overalls, the other a black t-shirt and jeans. The background features trees, parked cars, and a clear blue sky.

Poultry

A young man in a black jacket holding a small rabbit in front of a white tent at an outdoor event, with another person standing in the background.

Rabbits

Dairy Cattle

Two young men standing outdoors holding white chickens, with a farm or greenhouse structure in the background during what appears to be late afternoon or early evening.

Poultry

Close-up of a brown and white puppy with floppy ears, sniffing the camera.

Breeding Beef

Dairy Goats

Current SAEs

A woman with short blonde hair and a man with short dark hair working together at a desk. The woman is leaning over to look at the man's laptop screen. The desk has a notebook, pen, two mugs, a plant, and other objects. The background has a beige wall with a red panel and a decorative shelf with small items.

A young man with dark hair and light skin, wearing a beige blazer, mustard yellow shirt, and beige trousers, standing against a background with a red semi-circle and cream-colored wall.

Three people gathered around a laptop in a modern office space, with two women sitting and a man standing beside them, all focused on the screen, in front of a purple and beige wall.

Four people sitting around a table with breakfast food, coffee, and a laptop, engaged in conversation.