Est. 1937
What is an SAE?
An SAE is a supervised agricultural experience in which members pick a project at the beginning of their FFA career that follows them throughout their highschool career. The purpose of an SAE is to apply classroom learning into the real world and improve a students skills.
Entrepreneurship/Ownership SAE - Freshman Ruth Whitman
Ruth raises carcass steers for sale and butchering. Ruth keeps her calves on a dry lot to feed them out, break them for show, and prepare them for butcher. This process takes about 8 months from start to finish. This year, Ruth has 3 cross-breed steers and one heifer who will be sent to the butcher. Some daily tasks Ruth has done are walking her livestock, changing bedding, and prepping for shows. Ruth also works as a hired hand on her family's farm. In some ways, Ruth has benefited from her SAE, including learning to develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and pushing past her limits.
School-Based Enterprise SAE - Senior Avery Heilig
Within Avery's SAE, she manages our chapter's 1.25-acre asparagus business as the project manager. She oversees operations, including harvest scheduling, labor organization, quality control, marketing, and distribution, with the help of a small team. Originally planted in 2013 on unused school land, the asparagus plot has grown into a long-term asset that provides fresh, locally grown produce to DeWitt's local community. Over the past three years, Avery has invested more than 110 hours into managing this project. Her hard work and dedication have helped the chapter sell 764 pounds of asparagus and generate approximately $1,300 in income! Through this SAE, SAE has become a strong leader and developed skills such as perennial crop management, financial thinking, transparent communication, and ensured her interest in pursuing an agricultural career!
Service Learning SAE - Sophomore Grace Burzlaff
Through her SAE, Grace is working on building a new cattle barn at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in DeWitt. This includes her discussing and planning with the fair board as to what the community wants the new barn to look like and how it will function. Grace loves helping the community in any way and knows her project will be a great improvement not only for those who show, but for the general community. The barn will make the layout of the fairgrounds more functional and prevent cattle from getting loose and running around the grounds. Grace also has had the chance to meet and speak with many people and learn about jobs that she never thought she would look into.
Unpaid/Paid Placement SAE - Freshman Carson Gannon
Carson's SAE is to work on his family farm, in which he runs a grain cart during the fall, soil sampling in the summer, and keeping up on maintenance and on equipment and machinery. He has a total of 80 hours logged for his help on the farm. Something Carson enjoyed was soil sampling, as it was something he always wanted to do. In the future, he plans on helping treat soybeans in the winter for the spring planting season this year. Carson also has a second placement at SAE, in which he works for Burzlaff Showpigs. He helped the owner, Dan Burzlaff, this summer by viewing the new boars he acquired in the fall. He also helped sale break babies for the fall sales that went down to Texas! he has done tasks such as checking sows, feeding hogs, and farrowing while Dan is out of town. He has really enjoyed working for Dan and has logged 42 hours over the last 3 months while working with the piglets and boars. Carson was given this opportunity because he had bought pigs from Dan in the past.
Foundational SAE - Freshman Hadely Fuller
Hadleys SAE project included an internship working at Storybook Ending Bridal Shop and Urbanity in DeWitt. She does tasks such as hanging resses, cleaning surfaces around the store, organizing files, and helping manage social media. Within her time at Urbanity, she enjoys unpacking and steaming, switching the stores clothes between seasons, and learning how to make coffee at the coffee shop. Hadley worked with her aunt who taught her how to properly use persuasive selling tehcniques when talking to customers and properly managing a store. Hadley also learned how to speak more confidently with customers and find ways to be helpful within her community. She hopes to possibly get a job after her internship is over.​
Hall of Fame SAEs
Hall of Fame SAEs highlight graduated members whose SAEs has set them up for success outside of highschool. These members have shaped our program with their passion and commitment. We give this title to those who we wish to honor excellence, dedication, and the extraordinary achievements. The Hall of Fame is reserved for those whose lasting impact continues to inspire future generations, and it is our privilege to celebrate their legacy. They have lived out the mission of the FFA through their actions every day. These inductees have embodied the values of the FFA--premier leadership, personal growth, and career success--and their impact continues to guide the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Ella Krukow
Ella Krukow is a 2022 graduate of Central DeWitt High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and graduated with a degree in agricultural business. Ella is the owner and operator of EK Photography. Ella received her State degree in 2021, based around 3 SAE projects of Krukow Bros, an internship at River Valley Cooperative and an experience at the DeWitt Vet Clinic, and was a very active member of the FFA chapter and CAC Media Group throughout high school. Ella was also a member of the Conduct of Meetings team. Ella has used her experience in FFA and turned her passion of photography into a very successful career. Ella is the daughter of Ryan and Larissa Krukow of Princeton, IA. Congratulations Ella!
Kaitlyn Burken
Kaitlyn Burken is a 2022 graduate of Central DeWitt High School. She attended Kirkwood Community College and graduated with a degree in agricultural business in 2024. Kaitlyn is part owner and manager of the hog operation at Burken Family Farms. Kaitlyn held three leadership positions during her FFA career, serving as FFA President during the 2020-2021 school year. Kaitlyn’s SAE project consisted of working on her family farm, helping with everything from planting to calving. She participated in several activities and contests during her time in FFA, such as Conduct of Meetings, Poultry Judging, and Chapter Tests. She urges younger members to stay involved and try everything that FFA has to offer. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Gary and Jennifer Burken of Clinton, IA. Congratulations Kaitlyn!
Spencer Paysen
Spencer Paysen is a 2020 graduate of Central DeWitt High School. Spencer attended Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA and graduated in 2022 with an associates degree in agricultural business. Spencer is currently working at AgVantage FS in DeWitt, IA as an Applicator I. An extremely involved FFA member, Spencer has done it all. Spencer served on many committees and served in multiple leadership roles with his biggest honor-- serving as the FFA Chapter President in the 2019-2020 school year. Spencer competed in multiple contests, and had an outstanding SAE program where he started the Monday Motor Madness club and restored lawnmowers. He later went on to become a National Finalist in the area of Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship. Spencer is the son of Rodney and Deb Paysen of DeWitt, IA. Congratulations Spencer!
