Learning BEYOND Classroom Walls

"Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve" is a great philosophy that Agriculture Education lives by.  

In Ag Ed, learning extends beyond the wall of a classroom to allow students to demonstrate their proficiency in a given area of agriculture and natural resources.  Follow along to see how these outstanding Cumberland Valley students excel in their Supervised Agriculture Experiences (SAEs).

October 12, 2013

Today I had the pleasure of visiting Ms. Emiliann Goodhart to learn more about her Western Pleasure SAE.  This is her second year in the project and she has plans to expand even further within this year.  More details on that later.

Emiliann began the visit by 'introducing' me to her horse and gave me an orientation to the barn where she boards her horse.  She then demonstrated how to put the appropriate tack on her horse for a riding demonstration.  

Emiliann demonstrates how to correctly tighten the
saddle on her horse.

With tack correctly fastened and a quick discussion about different types of bridles, we were off to the outdoor riding ring to learn about the events that Emiliann competes in.  She first demonstrated the gaits of a horse (Walk, Trot, Canter, and Gallop) and then showed the pattern for Barrel Racing.

Emiliann also demonstrated how a hores
can be guided just by the reins.

Towards the end of my visit, Emiliann helped a younger 4-H member with questions about tack for her horse.  While Emiliann was helping the younger member, the parent of this member quickly commented that "Emiliann is the perfect person to ask for advice and she is a great mentor to younger members at the barn." This comment showed that Emiliann is taking her involvement within this SAE to the next level by passing on her knowledge to younger members and 'giving back' to others.

Emiliann helping a fellow equestrian
adjust her saddle and stirrups.

Emiliann said she has gained valuable skills in communication and scheduling through her 2 years of holding this SAE project.  She hopes to pursue a career as a Veterinary Technician, which will allow her to use the skills she has learned through her Western Pleasure Horse SAE in the future.  By having documented experience in the field of Equine Science that was supervised by her barn manager and Agriculture Teacher, Emiliann will show future employers that she has had valuable experiences that demonstrate her knowledge, skills, and competencies in this industry.  This SAE will set her apart from other applicants and give her the best advantage to experience success in her chosen career.

Standing on a horse? Only during an SAE visit
in Agriculture Education!

Stay tuned for more awesome success stories of CV Agriculture Science students!