Ellie and Kayla, members of Oley Valley FFA,  began their Supervised Agricultural Experience project in 2018,  when they discussed their mutual passion for horticultre and their desire to build a greenhouse. To get started, Ellie and Kayla develeped a business plan, partnership agreement and marketing ideas.  They finished building their greenhouse, but need a heating source.  The heating source will allow Ellie and Kayla to continue growing plants through the cold seasons.   Throughout the process of planning and building the greenhouse, Ellie and Kayla have gained invaluable entrepreneurial and construction skills; they have learned the value of teamwork and open communication.  Ellie and Kayle credit their high school Plant Science class for cultivating their love of working with plants.  

Garin Hoy, a member of Tyrone Area FFA,  breeds sheep as his Supervised Agricultral Experience.  He was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing grant for sheep jugs, a barrier of protection for ewes.  Sheep jugs allow bonding between the ewes and lambs prior to being released back into the heard; barriers also aid in ewe examinations and provide a safe space for a lambs who are unable to feed from their mother.  In addition to using the sheep jugs for his supervised agricultral experience, Garin also plans to loan the jugs to fellow FFA members who may need them for their projects, as well as use them at school as holding pens when goats and sheep are brought in for hands-on opportunities.  

Reese Gabreski, a member of Spudgrowers FFA in Coudersport, PA, includes beef production as one of his Supervised Agricultural Experiences.  He was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant to expand his knowledge of beef nutrition.  Reese researched the nutritional recommendations to meet the needs of his pregnant heiffers.  Based on his research, Reese purchased equipment and feed with the grant money.  As a result, his pregnant heiffers produced two well-developed Hereford-Angus cross calves, one bull and one heifer, born in April 2020.  Reese stated "My start to having a beef operation has opened up so many doors in my life with food production, farming equipment knowledge, making my own hay and seeing the science involved in breeding my own herd. In addition, my beef project has begun to help me mold a plan for my future in agriculture."

The Grand Canyon FFA was awarded a chapter grant in 2018 through the Learning by Doing Grant program.  They requested funds to build a chicken BBQ cooker trailer.  FFA students were guided by alumni members to create the Chicken BBQ Cooker Trailer that was funded by the grant. Students completed all aspects of the project under the guidance of the alumni members including welding, cutting, installing, and creating. They learned to troubleshoot and create an accurate bill of materials. Students also learned more about business through organizing the chicken BBQs that are able to be conducted as a result of the creation of this cooker. Students are able to estimate costs, sell a product to the community, and calculate profits. Students working in the BBQ cooker trailer learn about food safety and customer service.  The money raised from selling BBQ chicken and renting out the cooker to other organizations, will support the school's agriculture education classes and Grand Canyon FFA.

The H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant to purchase trees not found on the Fort Cherry School District Property.  The school district owns over 60 acres of property which includes native trees.  However, many of the trees on the Pennsylvania FFA Forestry Career Development Event could not be found on the school grounds. Together with the school's technology department, the H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter made QR code plaques for each tree which will be linked to a video made by one of the ag students, explaining the tree.  This will allow generations of FFA members the ability to correctly identify trees around the school property as well as prepare FFA members for the Pennsylvania FFA Forestry Career Development Event.  

Douglas Masser was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant for agriculture teachers in order to purchase binoculars for his Natural Resources classes at Pequea Valley High School.  Students in Mr. Masser's class learn about bird anatomy, behavior, and physiology in the classroom.  The students then use the binoculars to apply their new knowledge of bird identification and behavior to collect real-life data and analyze their findings.  The goal is for the students to be able to provide a recommendation to the school on the current biodiversity of the birds on campus and provide recommendations on habitat improvements to the school administration. Additionally, these skills may be helpful for students interested in the Wildlife or Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event teams.  

Jasmin VanSant was awarded funds from the 2019 Learning by Doing Grant for agriculture teachers in order to purchase materials required for a poultry processing station.  The equipment purchased with grant funds was used to demonstrate to Ms. VanSant's Food Science students and Poultry Evaluation team the proper processing steps of chickens from butchering to bagging. During this experience, students processed 7 chickens themselves and were able to take the fresh chicken carcasses home with them to eat. Her Food Science class focused on farm to fork initiative and described the process food takes to get to our plates.  In addition, Ms. VanSant's Poultry Evaluation team learned more about the production of poultry and put into practice the skills they had prepared for all year. The team graded each of the carcasses, learned how to properly cut a chicken carcass into individual cuts, and then practiced poultry parts ID. This allowed these learners to witness the entire poultry process and put into perspective the importance of poultry management and evaluation. This experience exemplified the true power and importance of “learning by doing."