Texas FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and Proficiency Awards: A Guide

Why This Guide Covers SAE, Not Show Events

Texas FFA does not publish a state fair or stock show contest program on the pages reviewed here, so this guide covers what Texas FFA does document for project work: the Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and the Proficiency Awards that recognize it. For show-ring and livestock judging contests, see the Career Development Events guide.

What Is an SAE?

According to the Texas FFA SAE page, an SAE is a required, year-long school project for all students in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) courses, and it must be graded. The requirement comes from Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 130, Subchapter A. The National Council for Agricultural Education describes an SAE as a "student-led, instructor-supervised, work-based learning experience" with measurable outcomes tied to AFNR Technical Standards, Career Ready Practices and the student's career plan.

Foundational SAE

The foundational SAE applies to all AFNR students at all grade levels and has five components:

Career exploration
Employability skills and college readiness
Personal financial management
Workplace safety
Agricultural literacy

Immersion SAE Types

Immersion SAEs put the foundational components to work in real-world settings. Texas FFA lists five types:

Placement/Internship: paid or unpaid work in an employment setting.
Ownership/Entrepreneurship: operating an individual business that provides goods or services. Raising and selling animals is considered production agriculture, not agribusiness.
Research (experimental, analysis or invention): investigating materials, processes or information.
School-Based Enterprise: two or more students run a business from campus, outside normal class time.
Service Learning: planning and carrying out a project that benefits someone other than the FFA chapter.

Keeping Records

A year-end SAE Report is completed and filed in the record book when it closes at the end of the reporting period, and it supports proficiency applications and star batteries. The record book program listed by Texas FFA is the Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET). The SAE page also links the Texas FFA Record Keeping Handbook, the Texas FFA SAE Handbook and Texas Education Agency minimum standards for documenting SAE hours for class credit.

Proficiency Awards

The Texas FFA Proficiency Awards recognize accomplishments in an SAE at the local, state and national levels. There are 51 award areas, from Agricultural Communications to Wildlife Production and Management. Judges consider skills related to an agricultural career, financial achievements (including growth in scope), personal growth through FFA, accomplishments given available resources, and communication skills.

Eligibility

Members can apply while in high school or within one year after graduating. To apply for any award above the chapter level, a member must have kept a full calendar year of FFA records.

Levels and Recognition

ChapterCertificate and medal at the chapter awards program.
District and AreaVaries, generally a certificate and/or plaque at the banquet or convention.
State$1,000 scholarship and plaque at the Texas FFA Convention.
National finalist$250 cash award and plaque at the National FFA Convention.

Timeline

Spring: chapters select applicants under local policy. District applications are submitted at the district degree check and award selection meeting, and district winners advance to area.
June: area-winning applications go to the Texas FFA Advanced Degree Check and Award and Scholarship Selection Conference.
July: state winners are recognized at the Texas FFA Convention.
July 1: National FFA postmark deadline.
August: national finalists are selected at the National FFA Center in Indianapolis.
October: national finalists are interviewed at the National FFA Convention, where the national winner is announced.

Texas FFA does not give an exact date for submitting national-bound applications to the state office. Ask your advisor for local deadlines.

Tips for Families

Start record keeping on day one. Proficiency applications above chapter level require a full calendar year of records.
Ask the advisor which immersion type fits the student's project.
The proficiency page links the proficiency handbook and scoring rubrics, and Texas FFA lists SAE grant information on its SAE page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an SAE optional?

No. Texas FFA describes it as a required, graded, year-long project for AFNR students.

Does raising animals count as agribusiness?

Texas FFA classifies raising and selling animals as production agriculture, not agribusiness, under Ownership/Entrepreneurship.

Who do I contact with questions?

Start with your agricultural science teacher. Texas FFA lists a phone line on its SAE page.

Official Resources

Texas FFA - Supervised Agricultural Experience: SAE types, records and handbooks
Texas FFA - Proficiency Awards: eligibility, levels and timeline

Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.