Thursday, November 14, 2013

SAE Student Success Stories - Story #4 - Pennsylvania

SAE is one of the most unique educational tools at our disposal as agriscience educators. SAEs have long standing impact on the lives of students. SAEs are not optional.

Story #5 - Pennsylvania
I had a student who was with me from 7th grade to 12th grade. He came from a small, successful family dairy farm but he wanted to do something in Wildlife as a career and was adamant about not going to college.  Despite his wildlife interest, his SAE projects were  first on a purebred dairy heifer and eventually his dairy herd:  calves that he had been given as gifts by his dad and grandpa that eventually went into the milking string.  Through class activities he became very good at judging dairy cattle, and eventually made connections to get some good Holstein and jersey bloodlines for his herd.  I'll never forget the day he told me he had decided to go to Penn State to pursue ag business/dairy production!   I was so excited!  He completed his 2 year degree,  and was one of the first from his high school to receive his American Degree in over 20 years!  He returned to the farm,  Granddad is retired, and now my student is assuming a lot of the day to day decision making for the farm along with his father.  His goal is to develop top quality Holstein bloodlines that he can market to other dairymen.  His daily Facebook posts regarding life on the farm show me that he is where he wants to be, and making strides towards his goal.  

Submitting Teacher: Ms. Ann Meyer

SAE Theorem #2 (Moore, 2003, The Agricultural Education Magazine)
Instruction should be given about SAE. One of the reasons students may not readily embrace having a SAE is because they do not know why they should have a SAE. The teacher should spend 3-5 days early in the courses in which new agricultural education students are enrolled teaching about SAE and why it is important. More detailed instruction should follow at a later date.

You are a developing positive agent of change who will one day help students explore and grow into their unlimited potential through agricultural education!


Dr. Foster

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