Entrepreneurship - Simply stated, the student owns and manages some type of agricultural enterprise such as a crop, livestock or an agricultural business. Examples of entrepreneurship activities include growing an acre of corn, operating a Christmas tree farm, growing bedding plants, raising a litter of pigs, owning a lawn care service, and a student cooperative growing poinsettias. Placement - Placement has been a major component of SAE since the 1960s. Students are placed in jobs in agribusiness firms, in school or community facilities and on farms or ranches. This is typically done outside of normal classroom hours and may be paid or non-paid.
Students keep records as to hours worked, type of work activities performed and wages.
Examples of placement SAE include working after school at a farm supply store, placement in a florist shop, working on Saturdays at a riding stable, and working in the school greenhouse after school and on weekends and holidays. Experimental is new category of SAE where the student plans and conducts a major agricultural experiment using the scientific process. Verifying, learning or demonstrating scientific principles in agriculture. Discovering new knowledge. Using the scientific process.