Prescott Valley, AZ — The Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center (AAEC) Prescott Valley Agriculture Program has been recognized as the 1st Place Multi-Teacher Foundational SAE Chapter for its outstanding implementation of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). The award, generously sponsored by AgWest Farm Credit, recognizes agricultural education programs that excel in engaging students in SAE projects and accurately tracking participation through the Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET).
Award winners were selected based on the percentage of students actively involved in and maintaining records within the AET system. AAEC Prescott Valley's agriculture department, led by instructors Rob Davis, Hailey Porter, and Kate Rousseau, earned top honors for their commitment to ensuring SAE opportunities are available to all students.
“Having CTE Director Ray Gless and Principal Patrick Wellert support SAE in our programs and having the tools of Chromebooks, the AET program, and technology support pays off again,” said Agricultural Education Instructor Rob Davis. “Both myself and Hailey regularly use AET in our programs and curriculum, and once again our FFA Chapter benefits with financial awards while our students benefit from receiving State and National awards. It's a win-win all the way around.”
What is AET?
The Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET) is an online, student-centered system used in agricultural education programs across the nation to document classroom learning, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and FFA activities. AET helps students develop critical recordkeeping and business management skills while providing teachers with valuable data to evaluate and strengthen their programs.
The Importance of SAE
Since the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917, recordkeeping has been a cornerstone of agricultural education. Supervised Agricultural Experiences were originally designed to connect classroom instruction with real-world agricultural business practices. Today, SAEs continue to evolve alongside advancements in agriculture, providing students with meaningful opportunities to explore careers, develop technical skills, and gain industry experience.
The Beginning of AET
The concept behind AET began in 1999 when University professor Roger Hanagriff, one of AET's co-developers, began conducting workshops focused on SAE recordkeeping and FFA award applications. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and modern recordkeeping system, Hanagriff joined colleagues Clay Ewell and Tim Murphy to develop what would become AET in 2007.
Their vision was to create a platform that would help students use industry-standard business practices, track the diversity of SAE projects, assist teachers in supervising student experiences, and provide meaningful program data that could be shared with stakeholders.
Within a few years, AET was adopted by multiple states and quickly became one of the most widely used agricultural education management systems in the country.
AET Today
Today, AET continues to support agricultural education programs nationwide by helping students and teachers document educational experiences, manage projects, and measure program success. The platform remains committed to maintaining strong industry connections and evolving to meet the changing needs of agricultural education.
Continuing Excellence at AAEC Prescott Valley
The recognition earned by AAEC Prescott Valley highlights the program's dedication to providing students with meaningful, career-focused agricultural experiences. Through strong administrative support, innovative technology integration, and a commitment to student success, the program continues to set a standard for excellence in agricultural education throughout Arizona.
For more information about the AAEC Prescott Valley Agriculture Program and FFA Chapter, please contact:
Ray Gless
CTE Director / Agricultural Education Support
Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center (AAEC)
