FFA students don’t slow down when summer arrives. Many spend their break completing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, putting classroom lessons into practice in real-world settings.

YourAgEdge invited local agriculture advisers to nominate two students for an SAE spotlight series. Today’s feature highlights a standout from Christian County FFA: Addison Gilkey.

Gilkey has built her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) around a cow/calf operation. With 10 cows and one bull, Gilkey manages her herd through careful daily attention, hard work, and a commitment to learning.

Her daily responsibilities include checking on her herd at least once a day to look for any sickness and overall condition of the livestock. Gilkey uses a work exchange with her dad to pay for feed, mineral, vaccinations, and other costs. 

Gilkey has been involved in FFA since middle school and was part of the first group at that level. Since then, her leadership has grown—serving as reporter and now taking on the role of Christian County FFA President for 2025–26.

“I wanted to be a model to the younger members and get more people involved to see why I love FFA so much,” Gilkey said.

She is passionate about showing others that agricultural education extends beyond traditional farming families, “I think every kid needs to know that it’s not just if you come from a farming background but there is something for everyone,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Gilkey plans to explore veterinary work. She is currently a co-op student at the Todd County Veterinary Clinic. She plans to attend Murray State University after graduation. 

Through her SAE and FFA leadership, Addison Gilkey is setting an example for her peers while preparing herself for a future in agriculture and animal health.

Listen to the full interview here: