BKW junior and FFA member Aaron Carr has been awarded a $1,000 SAE grant, sponsored by Bayer, to assist him in starting his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. A limited number of SAE grants are available each year. Aaron’s grant application was selected from among 1,086 applicants across the nation.
SAE grants help FFA members create or expand SAE projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete. An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture-related business, work at an agriculture-related business, or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience.
“The grant will be used to alleviate the financial strain in starting a hardscaping company,” Aaron said. “This will help in purchasing materials, application fees, and various other expenditures associated with the start up of a business.
“Prior to this year, I was unaware of the many opportunities that FFA had to offer me,” he added. “The organization has proven itself a wonderful opportunity that seems to try and help everyone who participates by providing leadership training and other opportunities for many different things.”
BKW agriscience teacher and FFA advisor Michaela Kehrer said, “Receiving this grant will provide Aaron the funds to continue to improve his hardscaping business. This past fall, he approached me about opportunities such as this SAE Grant and explained what his goal was. Through the FFA and our BKW internship coordinator Bonnie Kane, we were able to assist Aaron in developing an application and goals.
“Additionally, Aaron is able to share his experiences with the students in his landscaping/floral design class. He is truly a driven student who has a clear vision for his future.”
FFA is a school-based, national youth leadership development organization with more than 735,000 student members in 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
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