Landon Drews’ (center) Supervised Agricultural Experience, a corn test plot, was made possible thanks to his FFA chapter, local businesses and community supporters. Photo courtesy of Landon Drews.
When Paxton High School sophomore Landon Drews saw unused school land, he saw an opportunity. Inspired by his brother and experiences with dryland farming (growing crops in areas with limited water), Drews turned the space into a corn test plot, blending education, agriculture and leadership into a successful Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project.
“I’ve been around dryland farming my whole life, and this project let me learn more about the challenges farmers face,” says Drews. What began as a simple idea to plant corn soon evolved into a test plot after discussions with his brother about the idea of incorporating seed dealers.
With support from agricultural education instructor Corey Turner and the local Nebraska school board, Drews put his plan into action. Turner, who has taught at Paxton High School for 13 years, values SAEs for the hands-on learning they provide. “It broadens students’ horizons, builds entrepreneurship and teaches valuable communication skills,” he says.
Community Involvement
Drews says pitching the project to the school board was intimidating, but he received enthusiastic support. Local seed dealers contributed generously, and his father helped secure additional resources. The test plot was planted on May 10, 2024, and harvested on Oct. 30, 2024, culminating in a community-wide Harvest Test Plot Day.
To celebrate the harvest of his first crop, Drews invited community members and students to the plot for an educational event. Photo courtesy of Landon Drews.
“The main goal of the event was to be educational,” Drews says. “I wanted to get everybody involved — the community and the students. Not many people know what the agriculture industry is about, and I wanted them to learn.”
Younger students observed the harvest and participated in an agricultural expo, while high schoolers learned about farming processes and rode in a combine. “They were able to go down and learn about the process and talk to producers, seed dealers and anybody in between,” Turner says.
Leadership, Growth and Future Plans
Through the project, Drews honed his social skills. “I learned a lot about accounting and how to be a good example for younger students,” he adds. “I want to show others what farming is really like, including the challenges and the fun.”
Beyond the technical aspects of farming, Drews says this SAE helped him grow as both a leader and a farmer. “Dryland farming is a lot harder than I thought, but it’s all part of learning and growing,” he adds.
Drews’ plot includes multiple varieties of seed corn. Photo courtesy of Landon Drews.
Drews plans to continue the project throughout high school and pass it down to a younger student upon graduation. He’s also considering expanding to soybeans to explore dryland farming even further.
His advice to fellow FFA members pursuing SAE projects? “Just go for it,” he says. “It’s a great learning experience, and it can help you grow socially and professionally. Plus, it looks great on your resume and college applications.”
Learn by Doing
An SAE is a great way to develop real-world skills, and you can also earn recognition and awards for your efforts. Not sure where to start? Check out the SAE for All webpage to learn about the different types of SAEs, then explore how an SAE Grant could fund your passions and interests.
