Emmalee Kilstrom creates an arrangement for a customer. Kilstrom, an FFA member, is the recipient of a FFA grant awarded by Farm Credit. [Submitted photo]

A $1,000 2024 SAE grant has been awarded to Emmalee Kilstrom of Kewanee by Farm Credit.

SAE grants are designed to help FFA members create or expand Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete.

An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture-related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience.

This year 26 different sponsors funded SAE Grants. A full list of sponsors can be found on the National FFA Organization website on the SAE Grants webpage.

Kilstrom is a member of the Kewanee FFA Chapter. Her application was selected from among 1,238 applications nationwide. Her SAE project is called Emmalee’s Evergreens where she focuses on growing, propagating and creating beautiful fresh plants and/or arrangements for her customers.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.