Economic Impact of Supervised Agricultural Experiences: Returns from SAE Investment Costs in Texas, 2007–2008

Experiential learning, commonly called supervised agricultural experience (SAE), is a well documented, valuable, and integral part of agricultural education (Bryant, 2003; Cheek, Arrington, Carter, & Randall, 1994; Deyoe, 1953; Dyer & Osborne, 1996; Moore, 1988; Roberts & Harlin, 2007). Measuring the cost and economic benefits of SAEs would provide valuable information in communicating additional benefits of SAE programs (Cole and Connell, 1993). Results from the study presented here found that Texas entrepreneurship SAEs contributed $103 million in direct spending to the Texas economy during the 2007–2008 school year. A common measure of economic impacts is the IMPLAN Model, which provides estimates of additional economic benefits from direct spending. When the IMPLAN Model was applied to direct spending of $103 million, results indicated $189 million in total economic value from SAE related spending. The 189 million dollar economic impact is an important value and should be communicated to school stakeholders. Methods of assessment should be improved to provide more accurate estimates of value.