Fish Fashion

We strive to find ways to be more efficient and utilize our resources wisely. This week we highlight a story that shares how a group in Kenya are turning an unused resource from fish production for food into a valuable resource to create more jobs and improve the environment. Check out the linked video below and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations around the globe!

Turning Fish into Fashion

Discussion Points

• After watching the video what surprised you the most about Blue Fashion and this process?
• Many benefits were shared in the video. What are the benefits of this process? Of these benefits which do you feel has the biggest impact and why?
• Do you think Blue Fashion products would be accepted in your home community? Why or why not?
• What are the possibilities? What are other ways that we can use wasted or under utilized resources like this? Brainstorm ideas. Nothing is too crazy. Who would have thought Blue Fashion the first time they heard it?

World Soil Contamination

Our soil is such a valuable resource that often can go underappreciated. Soil contamination and pollution is a growing problem around the world and may not be from sources that you suspect. This week we share an article from the FAO highlighting this issue and provide discussion points to drive your conversations around the globe.

Increased Soil Contamination Puts Food Safety and Food Security at Risk

Discussion Points

• Why is soil contamination and pollution such a concern worldwide?
• What are the main causes of soil pollution and contamination?
• What can you do personally to help prevent soil pollution and contamination?
• What should be done bigger picture to prevent soil contamination and pollution (county, municipality, state, country, and world levels)?

Floating Dairy Farm

Our world is covered 70% by water so why not farm or raise livestock on the water? This is exactly what is being developed in the Netherlands as they are creating a floating dairy farm with plans for additional floating farms. Below we have linked a video created by AgCultures from the University of Minnesota. AgCultures travels around the globe and documents the story of agriculture at all levels. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations. 

The World's First Floating Dairy Farm

Discussion Points

• Explain the concept of the floating dairy farm? 
• There are plans for a dedicated space on the farm for education. Why is this so important?
• The importance of "transparency" is mentioned in this video and we have heard and seen this in other European countries as well. Why is transparency important? Is agriculture transparent in your home community/country? What could be done to improve transparency?
• Besides the floating dairy there are plans for two additional floating farms as well. Do you see this concept working? What other types of farms could become floating? 

Robotic Weeder

Technology is becoming more and more integrated into our lives every day. This week we highlight a video showcasing new technology being developed in Switzerland called the ecoRobotix. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points provided to spark conversations around the globe!

ecoRobotix Video in English

Discussion Points

• There are many benefits listed in the video to utilizing ecoRobotix. Of the benefits shared which do you feel is the most important and why?
• How would this technology be received in your home country/area? Do you think it might be received differently in different countries/regions? Explain.
•  Do you see any issues or ways to improve this technology?
• Think outside the box. What other technology could we create and utilize in agriculture to improve efficiency, production, and sustainability?

Cassava, Coffee, and Global Food Prices

When we think of agricultural commodities that are traded at a global level we often focus on what commodities we grow and raise locally. Often times we can lose site of the big picture when it comes to global commodities, trade, and prices. This week we feature an article from the FAO that highlights international agricultural commodity prices and what it means for trade and farmers and consumers around the globe. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points to guide you conversations in classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world.

Declining International Prices to Ease Food Import Burden for Poorest Countries 

Discussion Points

• What are overall worldwide trends in agriculture commodity and food prices? Who benefits? Who will face challenges?
• What are the trends with cassava globally? Depending on your location around the globe what roll does cassava play in your diet? Why or why not is it a popular crop in your area?
• Coffee is the widest traded tropical product in the world. What is the outlook for coffee trade and prices?
• Often times when we talk commodity prices we look at how farmers or consumers are impacted. Who else is impacted by commodity prices and trade outside of the farmer and consumer? How are these others impacted?

Street Art Agricultural Education

There are many ways to inform farmers and consumers on important practices and procedures in agriculture. A group in the country of Georgia is utilizing street art to spread the word and educate others on the importance of animal identification and health. The short video (2:26) linked below shares how the program is being implemented to educate others. We encourage you to watch this video and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations with others around the globe.

Street art promoting Animal Identification and Traceability System in Georgia

Discussion Points

• What is the purpose of this street art?
• Do you think that the street art will have an impact in the way it is intended? Do you think different cultures would look at this differently? Explain your reasoning either way.
• This is a creative way to get information out to others. Can you brainstorm and discuss other creative ways to disseminate information that is outside the norm? 

African Swine Flu Takes Flight

Often times individuals become frustrated with long lines at customs as they fly into another country or return home. However, this weeks featured article shows the importance of the work these custom agents have. We are featuring an article that explains how African Swine Flu became mobile via a flight to Japan. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to have conversations with others around the globe!

African Swine Fever Detected in Luggage at Airport

Discussion Points

• Why is African Swine Fever such a concern to producers around the world?
• Is there extreme concern with this sausage causing the spread of African Swine Fever? Explain.
• Put yourself in the position where you are in charge of customs at an airport. What would be your top priorities/practices to protect agriculture in your home country? Think about both animal and plants.

What does FOOD mean to you?

This is a very busy week in Des Moines, Iowa (USA) with World Food Prize events and this past Tuesday (October 16, 2008) was World Food Day. This week we highlight a video created for World Food Day that features many stories of food and food production around the globe. We encourage you to watch the linked video and strike up conversations with others around the world!

World Food Day Video

Discussion Points

• We will pose the question that was highlighted at the beginning of the video to you. What does food mean to you? 
• What are some of the main reasons for hunger around the world?
• Several stories are highlighted throughout the video. Which story stuck out to you and why?
• What action can you take to help ensure a #ZeroHunger future?

Organic Farming with Gene Editing?

This week we take a look at a piece that discusses the relationship between genetic engineering/CRISPR/mutation breeding and organic agriculture. This is often a controversial topic that can get heated. We encourage you to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to have civil conversations with others around the globe.

Organic farming with gene editing: An oxymoron or a tool for sustainable agriculture?

Discussion Points

• Explain the difference between genetic engineering, CRISPR, and mutation breeding.
• How are countries and groups looking at CRISPR differently around the globe?
• How does society in your home country look at genetic engineering, CRISPR, and mutation breeding? Do other countries view these practices differently or similarly?
• What do you see as the future of these practices/technologies and their relationships to conventional and organic farming around the globe? Do you see organic producers accepting practices like this in the future? Explain your reasoning.

Global Food Crisis

This week we take a look at a TED Talk that raises the concern that we may be closer to a global food crisis than many have predicted. While the video is a little longer than videos we traditionally feature (17 minutes) there are many points and thoughts brought to the table to get you thinking. We encourage you to watch the video and then utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe.

A global food crisis may be less than a decade away

Discussion Points

• Why does the speaker warn that a food crisis may be closer to reality than most may think?
• What piece of information shared was most surprising to you and why?
• Was there any piece of information shared that you did not necessarily agree with? If so, what was it and why? 
• In your opinion what must we do to avoid a food crisis like the speaker shares? Be able to defend your thoughts/plans. 

Faleminderit Kosovo

Today we wrapped up a spectacular week in Kosovo! We started our Saturday with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport. We had a great discussion regarding the history of Kosovo and current successes and challenges. After our meeting with the Deputy Minister we enjoyed conversation over a variety of our favorite coffees. Next we made our way to the National Catherdral, National Gallery, and the National Museum in Prishtina. Even though Kosovo as we know it today is a country that is just 10 years old it is very rich with history. We were able to see over 8,000 years of history and artifacts at the National Museum.

From the National Museum we traveled just outside of Prishtina to the Ulpiana Archeological site. We were able to check out roads and foundations of structures that the Romans built in the 3rd to 4th century AD. It is amazing that with all we saw they have only uncovered an estimated 2-3% of the city. Thank you to the Ministry for providing lunch after a great time together.

We took advantage of some time this afternoon to shop for souvenirs and pack. We concluded our evening the way we have much of our time in Kosovo...eating like royalty. We prep for a long day of travel tomorrow as we return to Iowa. While our time in Kosovo is coming to a close we know this partnership is just beginning. Faleminderit (Thank You) Kosovo!

Celebration Dinner Kosovo Style

It was a great Friday in Kosovo! All student/educator teams spent the morning with their host schools and host communities. This allowed some last minute time to share ideas and engage with one another. Morgan and Brad had the opportunity to present a workshop to students at the Prishtina Agriculture High School.

Following lunch student/educator teams started returning to the hotel to prepare for a celebration dinner with all involved at the Prishtina Agriculture High School. Every group had phenomenal expereinces and stated how hard it was to leave their host school and communities. This evening the entire group gathered for dinner. All involved shared thanks and reflected on the week. The students at Prishtina Agriculture High School prepared a spectacular meal in their state of the art kitchen. This also allowed great time for conversations with new and old friends.

After dinner the Kosovar students and educators invited us to the gym to play volleyball. Good times were had by all. While there was some language barriers there is no doubt that laughter is a universal language. Many stated tonight that it is hard to believe it is already Friday. Tomorrow will be our final full day in Kosovo. We will spend our Saturday with the Ministry of Culture learning more about Kosovo.

Immersed in Kosovo

Our Iowa and Kosovo students and educators are having a blast together and learning so much! The Iowa team is being immersed into the culture, education, and agriculture of this great country. Today included time in different levels of schools, visits to farms and agribusinesses, cultural excursions, coffee, and spending time with each other. Tomorrow we will all return to Prishtina to share and celebrate our time of collaboration in Kosovo. I will let the photos below tell the story of today!

Eye Opening Experiences

Today was the first full day our student/educator teams have been out with their host schools for the entire day. The comments that are being shared truly reflect great times being had by participants with lots of learning. Here are a few of the comments that were shared from today:

• “We have had a great and eye opening experience today! We may not want to leave!”
• “We have eaten at 6 restaurants and farms today and cannot eat anymore!”
• “We have visited the agriculture school, primary school, gymnasium (general school), along with a famous theater.”
• “We have visited many farms producing dairy, beef, apples, walnuts, and honey.”
• “We are enjoying coffee again!!!!!”
• “Great classroom visits today!”
• “Enjoyed a trip to a 7th century castle to learn some history as well!”

Tomorrow will be the last full day at host schools before all return to Prishtina for activities Friday. Below are a few pictures that were shared:

Venturing Out

We kicked off our day today with USAID Kosovo! Traditionally a lot of producers in Kosovo have produced corn and wheat. Unfortunately, due to small tracks of land (average farm size of 5 acres) these are not very profitable crops. We ventured out to the Kosovo countryside with USAID and Tetra Tech to learn about some projects that were helping farmers become profitable and sustainable. We first visited an apple orchard and greenhouse production facility before traveling to a greenhouse operation that is producing all types of vegetables and over one million seedlings a year to sell to other producers. It was truly remarkable to see what the farmers and producers were doing to make 20-50 times more with these production practices than traditional farmers producing the traditional corn and wheat crops.

The projects that we took a look at focused on:

• Improving agricultural production and food safety
• Developing markets
• Finding strategy partners (for sustainability)

At the conclusion of our time with USAID we returned to Prishtina for a lunch before our educator and student teams started venturing out to their partner schools and communities throughout Kosovo. This is exciting times as students and educators from Kosovo and Iowa are coming together as they learn more about agricultural education and agriculture in general from each other. Educators and students have arrived in their partner school communities and are ready for a couple full days together before all return to Prishtina for a dinner Friday night.

From Mystery to Ministry to the Dairy Industry

Today was truly a spectacular day! We arrived late Sunday night to Kosovo. It was dark and many went to bed once we got to the hotel so Kosovo was still a mystery to our travelers until the sun rose on our Monday and we were able to experience Kosovo for the first time. Our Monday morning consisted of meetings with the Ministries of Agriculture and Education. We first met with Minister Rikalo at the Ministry of Agriculture. He shared success and challenges of agriculture in Kosovo and the importance of agriculture to the country. He, also, had many great questions for the Iowa students and educators about agricultural education in the United States. Next we made our way to the Ministry of Education to visit with Minister Bytyqi. This provided an excellent opportunity to learn about the education system in Kosovo. We discussed successes and challenges facing education in Kosovo.

After our meetings we made our way to lunch in a beautiful setting. We enjoyed lunch outside and took time to slow down and enjoy conversation. Following lunch we traveled to EuroLona a dairy and dairy processing facility. We were able to see the entire process from the cattle to a processing facility that bottles milk and produces yogurts and cheeses.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a nearby restaurant, followed up by some gelato near our hotel. We are capping off a great day with a little time at the pool spa in the hotel. We look forward to tomorrow with a day with USAID in the countryside before participants meet their host site partners.

Kosovo and Iowa: Great Partners in Agricultural Education

Today a group of agricultural educators and agriculture high school students/FFA members take off for Kosovo to kickoff the Kosovo/Iowa Ag Ed/FFA project. This is a project that was first envisioned by at the time Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey (now Undersecretary at the USDA), and Minister of Agriculture for Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi (now member of Kosovo Parliament) as part of an Iowa Sister States organized experience that the Global Agriculture Learning Center (GALC) was a part of. That vision was further developed this past May when the Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa FFA Foundation, Iowa FFA Association, and GALC traveled to Kosovo with Iowa Sister States.

Today all the visions and planning become a reality! We are off to improve agricultural education in both Kosovo and Iowa through this spectacular partnership. Over the next week Iowa participants will meet with the Ministries of Agriculture and Education in Kosovo, tour agriculture businesses and producers, and spend time with their partner schools in Kosovo. After we return the partnership will continue with online interaction monthly before agricultural educators and students from Kosovo come to Iowa in April.

We look forward to an awesome experience of learning and growing together! Below are the paired Kosovo and Iowa schools.

Gjakova and Oelwien
Gjilian and Independence
Peja and Union (La Porte/Dysart)
Prishtina and Pleasantville
Vurshtrri and Waukee

Preparing to Feed Growing Urban Populations

Recently for the first time in the history of our world there are more people living in urban areas than rural areas. This number is only going to continue to grow. This brings challenges of feeding our world in a sustainable fashion. Watch the linked video below and utilize the discussion points provided to reflect and guide conversations around the globe!

How will we prepare our towns and cities for a sustainable future?

Discussion Points

• What did you find most surprising from this video and why?
• At one point in the video many possible solutions are shared from more jobs for women to better income for farmers and more. Review these potential solutions. Which do you feel is the most important and why?
• Of the solution you chose in the previous discussion point, how do we achieve this solution?
• How are cities around the world working together to address this issue? 

Tunnel Farming in South Korea

With urban populations increasing available farm ground and farm workers are decreasing. With this we must address doing more with less, while also looking for innovative ways to increase agriculture production. This is what a group in South Korea is working to do as they start a farm in an abandoned tunnel. You are encouraged to read the linked article below and utilize the discussion questions provided to guide conversations in classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the globe!

Farmers Plant Crops in South Korean Tunnel 

Discussion Points

• Explain what this project is doing. What makes it unique? How are they cutting costs?
• Do you see vertical farming catching on around the globe? Will it be more popular in some areas than others? Justify your response.
• This is a great example where a group took an underutilized area and turned it into a productive operation. Look around your local community and state. Are their opportunities to increase agriculture production in nontraditional ways? Get creative and think big!

China Battling African Swine Fever

As the school year returns for many so does our weekly blogs challenging students and community members around the world to discuss global topics in agriculture. We kick things off with this article that shares the impact of African Swine Fever on hogs in China. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations in your classrooms. 

Heavily Pork-Reliant China Battling African Swine Fever 

Discussion Points

• What impact is African Swine Fever having on pork production in China?
• Why is this outbreak of African Swine Fever such a concern in China? 
• Notice the picture that accompanies this article. what do you notice about production practices from the picture? What are the similarities/differences between production practices in China and your home country? 
• What are other countries doing to protect against the spread of African Swine Fever? 
• Imagine you work for your home country's department/ministry of agriculture. What practices/procedures would you put in place to protect the pork industry in your home country? Explain your reasoning. 

Developing Agricultural Education in Kosovo

Today definitely had a focus on agricultural education and much was accomplished. We started our day by traveling to Vushtrri to visit their Agriculture High School. We received a tour of the school, enjoy refreshments prepared by the food technology students, and then had time to meet with faculty to discuss the agricultural education project we are developing between Kosovo and Iowa. Vushtrri’s excitement for this project is evident.

Following our time we returned to Prishtina for the remainder of the day. Late morning we had a meeting with the Dean and some faculty from the Agriculture Department at the University of Prishtina. We discussed successes and challenges facing their institution and the excitement of moving into a new building in the future.

The Prishtina Agriculture High School is very close to the agricultural university so we simply walked to the high school where we found students preparing our lunch in the food science lab. These students created a spectacular lunch for us along with Prishtina faculty and municipality representatives. We definitely gave the students an A+ (or a 5 in Kosovo grading). We were blown away by their talent in preparing and serving lunch.

After our delicious lunch we spent the afternoon brainstorming, analyzing, and creating the agricultural education partnership project between Kosovo and Iowa. Great plans have been made and work is to be done yet, but we are very happy how things went and are excited to move things forward!

For dinner those in education gathered for a dinner with the Kosovo Ministry of Education. As always the meal was awesome and we were treated to great conversations and fellowship. Saturday will be our final full day in Kosovo, before returning to Iowa Sunday. Saturday night will be capped off with a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister.

Adventures in Gjilan

First thing this morning we hit the road as we made our way to Gjilan in southeast Kosovo. When we arrived we had a meeting with Mayor Lutfi Haziri. He shared lots of information on the municipality of Gjilan with us. He explained that this area is a heavy agriculture area producing fruits, vegetables, tobacco, meat, wood, and processing of food products. His three priorities for the area were to improve infrastructure, agriculture, and education.

From the Mayor’s office we made our way to the Agriculture High School in Gjilan. They currently have a little over 2,000 students in the high school. We were able to visit with the principal and teachers at the school to learn more about how agricultural education operates in Kosovo. We were able to tour their classrooms, labs, greenhouses, and orchards.

We enjoyed a great lunch on top of a hill overlooking the city before visiting Kadri Zeka University in Gjilan serving about 7,000 students. While they don’t currently have agriculture as a degree option they incorporate agriculture into their current programs such as business and economics with the importance of agriculture in the area. They look forward to possibly adding agriculture degrees at some point.

Our final stop in Gjilan was time at Ask Foods. This is a unique food processing company that is growing. They are the only facility in the Balkans that can store fresh fruits and vegetables without freezing products for up to one year. They specialize in fruit juices, spreads, jams, canned vegetables, etc. They export most of their products with markets in New York and Chicago in the USA. We would like to thank Tony Bislimi for hosting us and planning our time in Gjilan.

From Gjilan we returned to the hotel and immediately traveled to Vushtrri where Norwalk, Iowa and Vushtrri signed their sister cities agreement. It was a great evening of ceremonies, including speeches, singing, and dancing. We concluded our day with great conversations at the restaurant Soma as we prepare for a busy Friday in Kosovo!

Exploring Dairy, Education, and Potatoes in Kosovo

We started off the day with a large group of the delegation meeting with the Minister of Innovation, Besim Beqaj, at the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo. The minister did a great job of outlining possible areas of growth for education and his vision for Kosovo to lead IT in the region with all the young people in Kosovo. We were able to have great discussion and ask many questions.

After our breakfast, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, we broke off from the large group and we headed to Eurolona. Eurolona is a farm who’s main products are dairy and wheat. While Eurolona is a farm they are also a processing facility for dairy producing milk, yogurts, cheese, and other dairy products. They utilize all of their milk and buy milk from other area farmers to produce all of their products that are currently sold in Kosovo. As their operation grows they are looking towards the possibility of export markets. Currently they are milking in a tie stall setup, but are in the process of switching to a free stall/open setup with an eight herring bone parlor. It was great to see their setup and tour their facilities. We were even able to see some genetics from Iowa State University as Eurolona is the home of the first embryo transfer cattle in Kosovo and the region. This work has been done by Dr. Curt Youngs from Iowa State University.

For lunch we enjoyed another spectacular meal in an outdoor setting. Many enjoyed fish while others opted for steak or calzones. Following lunch we met with Almir an agricultural educator at the Prishtina Agriculture High School and the principal of the school. This is the only magnet agriculture school in the country. They currently have 530 students studying agriculture. Unfortunately, there were no students on campus as it was a national holiday. We were able to see their awesome facilities including their food lab, greenhouses, computer labs, orchard, and science laboratories. We will return to the Prishtina Agriculture High School on Friday to learn more about their program and see their school farm.

Before retuning to the hotel we visited M&6 Products who process potatoes into french fries and also create kroket, which is similar to a mozzarella stick with meat chunks. Thanks to Almir for sharing agriculture in Kosovo with us today. After returning to the hotel we had the opportunity to enjoy dinner at nearby Soma and enjoy conversations with colleagues and friends from Iowa. We look forward to another exciting day tomorrow!

Diplomatic Day in Kosovo

It was a very productive Tuesday in Kosovo. We learned a lot about the country of Kosovo and met with many governmental leaders. We kicked off our morning with a an overview of Kosovo from Ambassador Delawie with the U.S. Embassy. He discussed successes and challenges in Kosovo, before we broke into smaller groups to visit with embassy representatives focusing on our specific sectors of interest.

Following our time with Embassy officials we departed for the Kosovo Parliament chamber for a meeting with the speaker of the parliament and members of parliament. Members of parliament and leaders from the Iowa delegation shared perspective on the Kosovo/Iowa partnership. While Kosovo has room for great improvement and advancement there is no doubt the leaders and people of Kosovo have a strong work ethic and willingness to work together to take Kosovo to new heights. Once again, the love for Iowans was shared with the emphasis that they want Kosovo to feel like our second home.

After a spectacular lunch were we enjoyed a typical Albanian lunch we broke into our different sector groups. The agriculture team joined up with the education team to visit with the Minister of Education, Shyqri Bytyqi. All of the education representatives had time to share information about our educational institutions. We briefly discussed a technical training facility that DMACC is leading the development of with the Ministry and the Global Agriculture Learning Center at Hawkeye Community College has been asked to develop and lead the agriulture portion.

We once again broke into smaller groups as our time with Minister Bytyqi came to a close and our agriculture team split from the education team and made our way to the Ministry of Agriculture. We had a great discussion on agriculture with Minister Nenad Rikalo and General Secretary Kapllan Halimi. We were able to discuss the agricultural education development program we are working to implement and the Ministry is excited to move the project forward. We look forward to growing collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture in Kosovo.

We concluded our evening with a specatacular dinner hosted by Erolld Belegu. Tomorrow is a holiday in Europe so many agencies and businesses are closed. We will spend the day exploring agriculture and visiting a high school agricultural education program. Even in Kosovo agricultural educators pull crazy hours welcoming us on their day off.

Welcome to Your Second Home: Kosovo

We have arrived in Kosovo! It was long travels with layovers in Chicago and Frankfurt, Germany, but we made it to Kosovo with out any major problems. However, we were delayed a bit with our arrival to Kosovo, so after arriving at the Prishtina airport and being welcomed through the VIP reception area we headed straight to a welcome by the Prime Minister. His message was clear. “Welcome to your second home. Our home is your home.” This great hospitality will no doubt be a theme for the week. Our Kosovar friends are always so welcoming and are gracious hosts.

Following our time with the Prime Minister we had a little time to check into the hotel and freshen up before traveling to Stone Castle Vineyards and Winery. Stone Castle is the largest winery in the region and have started exporting to Iowa and plan to expand export markets. It was a specatacular evening with friends discussing the Kosovo/Iowa partnership over dinner. It was great to catch up with former Minister of Agriculture Memli Krasniqi.

Tomorrow will be a full day with briefings from the U.S. Embassy and Kosovo Ministries, before visits with the Minster of Education and Minister of Agriculture. We look forward to an exciting day growing our partnerships in Kosovo!

Off to Kosovo!

This next week is going to be an exciting time of agricultural education development in Kosovo! I am at the airport getting ready to board a flight to meet up with a large delegation from Iowa heading to Kosovo organized by Iowa Sister States. There will be groups focusing on education, sports, art, business, law enforcement, and many other areas. Our focus for the week will be agriculture with a strong focus on agricultural education. The agriculture team is compromised of representatives from the Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa FFA Foundation, Iowa FFA, Iowa State University, and of course the Global Agriculture Learning Center at Hawkeye Community College.

We are excited to grow agricultural education both in Kosovo and in Iowa through this unique program. Follow our adventures throughout the week to learn more about this program and other agricultural connections and partnerships that we are building. Off to Kosovo!

Drones and Agriculture Disasters

Drones have grown greatly in popularity over the years and everyone shares how much "fun" they can be. The linked video below looks at how drones have been used in the Philippines to assess agriculture after disasters as a tool versus a toy. We encourage you to watch the short video clip linked and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations in your communities around the world!

Drones Map Agricultural Land in the Philippines

Discussion Points

• How are drones being utilized within agriculture in the Philippines?
• While one major example for drones is highlighted in the video, what other ways are drones utilized within agriculture currently? 
• Explain why drones can be much more efficient than people as tools in agriculture.
• Outside of drones, what other technologies are, or could be used, to increase production and/or add value to agriculture? Explain how the technology is utilized and it's benefits.
• What do you see as the future capabilities of drones in agriculture around the globe?

The Need for Bioeconomy

This week we take a look at a global call for bioeconomy for all. In an article from the Food and Agriculture Organization out of Rome we take a look at the roles bioeconomy can have in improving access to food and addressing climate change. Utilize the discussion points provided below to guide your conversations in your classrooms and communities around the world.

FAO Calls for Global Coordination for a Bioeconomy that Leaves No One Behind

Discussion Points

• Explain bioeconomy. Imagine you meet someone on the street and you must explain to them in a couple sentences what bioeconomy is. Use the article to help you with this, but feel free to do additional research if needed.
• Give examples of bioeconomy that you see in your community and/or around the world?
• How can bioeconomy improve access to food and help address climate change? 
• There is a piece in the article that states just because bioeconomy has "bio" in it, does not mean that it is good for climate change? Explain and give an example of why this is the case.

Syrian Refugees Find Agriculture

Syrian refugees in Turkey are finding agriculture as a way to improve their lives as well as others. Below we have linked a video that explores how agriculture is being used to get refugees back on their feet and many hare how it improves their current situation, but hope to improve things if given the chance to return to Syria. You are encouraged to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the world!\

Enhanced Resilience For Syrian Refugees (5:09)

Discussion Points

• Explain the program that is being implemented to empower Syrian refugees in Turkey.
• Why do you feel this program has been so successful?
• Do you see a program like this being beneficial to implement in other areas of the world? Explain your reasoning.
• Brainstorm ways to improve this program. What can be done to take things to another level?

Sericulture in Japan

Do you know how silk is produced? It is an interesting process that most might be unaware of. Linked below is an article that explains silk production, trends the industry has seen, and what is being done to increase efficiency. We encourage you to look over the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Japan Looks to Revitalize Sericulture

Discussion Points

• Over the years what have been the trends in sericulture?
• What is being done to improve efficiency in sericulture production? What are your overall thoughts on this? Good, bad, or indifferent? Why?
• What was the most interesting piece of information you learned from this article? Explain your thoughts.
• Many challenges were mentioned in sericulture. Brainstorm and explain possible improvements that the industry could make to improve production and efficiency even more? Think outside the box. The possibilities are endless. 

Brazil: Ag Power

On our recent visit to Brazil we had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Agriculture in Brasilia. We were able to learn about the products produced and agriculture practices in Brazil. There is no doubt that Brazil is a leader in agriculture and has great growth potential. We encourage you to look over the linked document that was shared with us in Brazil and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe!

Brazil Agriculture

Discussion Points

• As you look over the slides which slide surprised you the most and why? 
• Brazil is a major agriculture player with the opportunity to expand. Explain why this is the case.
• There is often a misconception that Brazil is destroying the environment. What is Brazil doing to protect and improve their environment? 
• Compare agriculture in Brazil to agriculture in your home country/region. Are the crops and livestock similar/different? Trade relations? Trends? Environmental laws and protection? 

Acute Hunger Grows

A recent report emphasizes the rise in acute hunger around the globe and why it is so alarming. Acute hunger is defined as so severe that "it poses an immediate threat to lives and livelihoods." We encourage you to read over the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe.

Acute Hunger Intensifies

Discusion Points

• Last year globally there was an increase in acute hunger. Why did we see this increase?
• Conflict and weather are key factors that were noted as contributing to world hunger.  Explain why these two factors contribute so greatly to hunger.
•  How do we combat the challenges that conflict and weather bring to world hunger? How do we solve these issues in your opinion? Give specific examples.
• Towards the end of the article key messages are shared. Of these key messages what stuck out to you the most and why?

Trade Uncertainty

Agriculture trade is very important to countries around the globe. There are many things that can impact trade including countries imposing tariffs and quotas. This week there has been a lot of talk about tariffs being placed on products between China and the United States. The attached article gives a brief summary and includes a video explaining the current situation between China and the United States. We encourage you to watch the video, read the article, and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe?

Tariffs for China and U.S. Goods

Discussion Points

• Explain what a tariff is. If you need to do additional research that is fine.
• Why is the U.S. considering tariffs on China? Why is China considering tariffs on the U.S.?
• What is the potential impact to agriculture in the two countries (markets, supply, etc.)?
• How might this "trade war" impact your home country? Your home state?
• How might this situation impact countries around the world besides China and the United States?

Discussion tip: Note that the discussion points above do not include any political figures or parties. Try to keep the discussion to trade policy and agriculture markets.

Field to Flight

We will soon be in the air  on our way back to the USA. We have arrived at the Brasilia airport and are awaiting boarding. We started off our day at the Ceres Agrobusiness Field Day. We were able to visit with seed, fertilizer, and chemical companies about production practices in Brazil. One of the most intriguing sessions was a company creating fertilizers from ocean products, such as red algae. GALC was even highlighted by the local media with a video interview.

Following our time at the field day we packed up at the hotel and began our trek back to Brasilia. We have three flights ahead of us before returning to Waterloo Sunday afternoon. We’ve all had a spectacular time in Brazil, but look forward to seeing family and friends as we return to Iowa!

Agriculture and River Run

Today was our last full day in Brazil before we fly home tomorrow evening and return to Iowa on Sunday. We kicked off our day with a visit to a cotton processing facility. It is a family owned operation which grows and processes cotton so it can be shipped to clothing and material manufacturers in Brazil and around the world. We discussed the process from when it leaves the field to when it is shipped to manufacturers for production. After we learned about grading and all that goes into cotton production we made our way to the fields. We visited a cotton field that was planted in December and will be harvested in late May/early June. There was much discussion on production practices. Many were blown away be the intensive management of cotton which includes 26 passes of pesticides and 4 passes of fertilizers.

We enjoyed a traditional Brazilian lunch once again, which is a buffet style lunch with many options. Following lunch we visited Caramuru, a plant that processes soybeans and corn into many different products from corn meal to vegetable oil. The plant specializes in non-GMO soybean processing and sends a lot of that product to the Netherlands and Europe. The corn they work with is all GMO corn. They stated the premium for non-GMO soybeans is great and the reason for their procedures.

Following our hot day of touring we cooled off with boating and swimming in the river that separates the states of Goias and Minas Gerais. This was a relaxing way to end the day before enjoying a spectacular dinner with even better friends in Brazil! Tomorrow we will attend a field day in the morning before making our trek back home. There may not be another blog post until next week with two busy travel days ahead.

Such a Sweet Day

Today was truly a sweet day. We spent the morning exploring sugarcane production and processing. We started our day in the fields where we had great discussions on production practices and were able to experience harvest. The gentleman that managed the sugarcane field that we visited has 37,500 acres of sugarcane. It was clear he was very innovative in his production practices. After harvest he has crews come in to analyze post harvest loss, stem lengths, and more to improve yields. The specific field we were in was on it’s 11th year of production. Most fields can go 6 or 7 years with the same sugarcane before it sees yield loss, but this field has been in production for 11 years with no drop in production due to soil nutrition and health management.

From the fields we made our way to a small, family owned sugarcane processing plant that produces sugar for consumption and ethanol. It was incredible to see all that goes into processing sugarcane to a finished product. Many were amazed by the amount of chemistry and steps to produce sugar and ethanol. We were even able to sample some of the finished sugar towards the end of the tour.

After we enjoyed lunch at a Churrascaria (meat feast), we made our way to a seed corn Pioneer production plant. We were able to discuss operations at the plant and tour the facilities. We had the opportunity to compare and contrast processes in the USA and Brazil. Much was the same, but there were several differences that led to engaging conversations. Many enjoyed some relief from the heat in the cold storage at the plant.

We ended our evening with a dinner where many enjoyed a monster of a burger and conversations with great friends from Brazil. We look forward to tomorrow which will be our final full day in Brazil.

Fun in the Sun

Wednesday we took a break from exploring agriculture to relax and have some fun. We spent the day at a hot spring water park. The water throughout the park is naturally heated by a dormant volcano. We had some thrill seekers who took their turns on the half pipe and piranha water slide while others opted for the lazy river and wave pool. No matter what direction you went you were sure to have an enjoyable day.

As our day concluded we loaded up the van and made our 1.5 hour trek to Intumbiara, where we will dive into agriculture once again. We closed out our evening at a pizzeria with Brazilian friends with Ceres Agrobusiness who have traveled to Iowa in the past to learn about agriculture.

A Day of Dairy, Corn, and Soybeans

Today was a spectacular day of exploring agriculture in Brazil. We started off our day visiting the Piracanjuba dairy training center. Piracanjuba is a dairy company that produces and sells milk, cheese, and other dairy products. This center provides training for employees of dairy farms selling milk to Piracanjuba and also sends advisors out to farms to improve production. Students enjoyed comparing production practices in the USA to Brazil. One of the surprising challenges that Brazil is working to address is their high somatic cell count.

After lunch we visited a soybean and corn farm. The most common production practice is soybeans as a first crop followed by corn as a second crop. With irrigation they are starting to produce tomatoes, sweet corn, or edible beans as a third crop. This year they are going to follow the second crop with an African grass grazed with beef cattle in half of their fields. The grass helps reduce compaction in the fields. We were able to see harvest (soybeans) and planting (corn) within the same field in the same day. To end our time at the farm we visited second season corn crop that was 120 day maturity that was 7-8 feet tall after just 52 days of production.  It was an eye opening experience for all once again comparing production between our two countries.

We ended the evening at the hot springs pool at our hotel in Caldas Novas. We enjoyed an evening of conversation and reflection on the day at the pool and enjoyed dinner poolside. Unfortunately, our WiFi has not worked the best which is the reason for this late post. 

Agriculture Diversification in Brazil

We had an awesome day of learning on Monday! We jumped right in with a visit to Embrapa. Embrapa is a governmental research agency that is all across Brazil. This specific location specializes in rice and edible beans, but is becoming more diversified in it’s research with cotton, maize, soybean, beef cattle, and dairy cattle. We started our day with an overview of Embrapa before moving to their gene bank, which stores around 47,000 different varieties of rice and beans. We enjoyed visiting their greenhouses where they were raising rice and beans for the bank as well as a visit to a cotton research area. As we finished our morning at Embrapa we traveled with them to their nearby feedlot to learn about beef cattle production. Nellore is the breed of cattle that are popular in Brazil as they are breed to tolerate the heat.

For lunch we made our way to the UFG campus where classes will be starting Tuesday. Following lunch we toured the agriculture campus and made a stop in to the coffee lab where we learned more about roasting coffee beans and sampled some fresh product. Any visit to UFG is not complete until you find the monkeys roaming central campus and today certainly did not disappoint.

Late afternoon we traveled to Fazenda Organica Novas Senhora Aparecida. This is an organic farm that produces a variety of crops including: corn, soybeans, peanuts, bananas, papayas, coffee, etc. The farmer is very innovative in his production techniques and puts an emphasis on education opening his farm to other producers and university students. Along with his crop production he also has a wildlife rehabilitation center that works with all animals except pumas and snakes. We were able to visit some of the blue macaws he was working with.

We rounded out the day with a great steak dinner and enjoying the weather poolside before preparing to head onto Caldas Novas tomorrow. There is no doubt there is major diversification of agriculture in Brazil and we will continue our exploration with a visit to a dairy and a corn/soybean farm on Tuesday!

Family, Friends, Feasting, and Futbol

Today we enjoyed weekend living in Brazil. It was an eye opening experience for many as we learned more about culture in Brazil. It was noted by many the slower lifestyle exhibited by the Brazilians. It seems we are all so busy running from here to there back home. It was nice to reflect on the importance of spending time with others and enjoying life.

We started out the day by making our way to a local park where many sampled fresh coconut water and took in the beautiful scenery. After a short walk we loaded up and headed to Juarez’s place where we enjoyed an afternoon of  visiting with our Brazilian family and friends. Today was once again a day of feasting. At Juarez’s we enjoyed a full meal featuring Feijoada. Feijoada is a traditional black bean stew which originally was a staple for slaves in Brazil. We cannot thank Juarez, Jeanne, and their entire family enough for welcoming us into their home.

After a relaxing afternoon we made our way to the local stadium to take in a futbol game. It was a heated soccer match between the number 1 and number 2 teams in the region. We became fans of Club Goias as this is Juarez’s team. It was a very entertaining match with enthusiastic fans on both sides. Unfortunately, Goias lost 1-0 to Athletico. Following the soccer game we headed to Madero’s home of the “worlds best burger.” We all put this slogan to the test. The verdict is still out on this claim.

We are now reflecting on our time in Brazil at the rooftop pool. We look forward to diving back into agriculture tomorrow with tours of Embrapa, UFG campus, and an organic farm.

Cooling Off at Pirenopolis

Today we moved from Brasilia to Goiania, but spent most of our day in Pirenopolis. Pirenopolis is a much smaller town than Brasilia or Goiania. It is an older town in Brazil with small shops and narrow roads. Near by Pirenopolis is an area of natural springs and waterfalls. We went for a hike and explored many different waterfalls. As we approached the last couple of waterfalls the terrain became steeper. We were rewarded with a swim in the cool spring water at the last waterfall.

Once our time was completed at the waterfalls we headed into town to grab lunch, sample some ice cream, and do some shopping before making our way to Goiania. We were able to settle into the hotel and enjoy dinner with friends from Brazil who have studied at Hawkeye and visited Iowa in the past.

Throughout our travels we were able to see much of the countryside. We were able to see fields being harvested, planted, and sprayed all within the same day. This has us hungry to learn more about Brazilian agriculture as we move into this next week!

Ministry, Agriculture, and Food Comas

Today was our first full day in Brazil. We had a little later start to the day which allowed us to catch up on some sleep from our busy travel days. We had two primary presentations today that really allowed us to learn more about agriculture in Brazil. These were presentations we heard by the Ministry of Agriculture  at the Ministry and Embrapa at the Universidade de Brasilia. There was great discussion on Brazilian Agriculture at both. Some of the emerging facts are below:

• Brazil is a major player in agriculture. They lead the world in many areas of production and exports.
• Brazil leads the world in agriculture trade surplus.
• Brazil has the greatest agriculture potential of any other country in the world when you look at land and water availability. 
• Brazil is a leader in environmental protection with much of their land set aside in natural habitats. Farmers must keep anywhere from 20% - 80% of their agricultural land in natural reserves depending on what part of the country they are in. 
• Brazil has found away to be carbon neutral in beef production. 

Along with a great day of learning we had a great day of feasting as well. We started off our morning with a delicious traditional Brazilian breakfast consisting of a variety of fresh fruits, bread, eggs, meats, cheeses, and fresh juices. For lunch we enjoyed a Churrascaria where we hand plentiful fresh veggies, meat, fish, and sides. We wrapped up our feasts with a dinner of all you can eat pizza. Many had a favorite of desert pizza with ice cream and chocolate. Many felt they were in a food coma and may not need to eat for days. Thankfully we walked some of it off with a walk around the Universidade of Brasilia, but unfortunatley this left us a little wet from a heavy rain. Tomorrow we are off to Goiania with a stop in Pirenopolis.

Fifty in Five

We hit the ground running in Brazil today! Our travels were very successful with all flights being on time with stops in Chicago and Miami flying out of Waterloo on our way to Brasilia. We arrived in Brasilia at about 9:00 AM (or 6:00 AM Iowa time). Once we claimed our luggage we met up with Juarez and our driver. We started out with a quick driving tour and visit to the national cathedral. We had plans to visit the TV tour to get a bird’s eye view of the city, but unfortunatley, it was closed due to a worker strike. This did, however, provide us time to meet up with Jose.

For lunch we made our way to a local mall and the food court. The group was split between a Brazilian buffet and Giraffes (a local burger joint). After lunch we visited the JK Memorial. This is a memorial for President Juscelino Kubitschek, who ran on the platform of moving the capital of Brazil to the central part of the country and had the vision of creating Brasilia which is now 57 years old. He implemented his “Fifty in Five” plan as president. This was fifty years of progress in five years time. JK was very successful creating the federal district in three years and creating an automobile and shipbuilding industry in Brazil among with many other advancements. We were able to see many artifacts from him and his wife, Sarah. We even got to see the remaining books of the original Shakespeare book collection given to the Kubitscheks as a gift. JK’s story is truly remarkable.

Following our time at the JK Memorial we checked in at our hotel and prepped for our evening. As we prepared to head out the rain started, so our site seeing plans changed a bit. Instead we went to the mall to pull out cash for later shopping and by the time this was completed the rain had stopped. We visited the three powers square and checked out the Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court, and many monuments. For dinner we enjoyed Mangai, which is a massive Brazilian buffet. Many loved the fresh fruits and variety of desserts.

For the past 32 hours of traveling and exploring Brazil it has felt like we have been going fifty mph on five minutes of sleep. We are now reflecting on our day on the rooftop poolside. Tomorrow we are excited to visit the Ministry of Agriculture and learn more about agriculture in Brazil. Ate amanha!!!

Brazil Bound

Today we are off for an exciting adventure to Brazil with a group of 10 students and two co-leads! Over the next week and a half we will have the opportunity to visit the ministry of agriculture, farms, agribusinesses, universities and much more to learn more about agriculture in Brazil. While we will spend much time exploring agriculture in Brazil we will take time to learn about Brazilian culture as well.

We invite you to return to this blog often to follow our time in Brazil! Follow us on the following social media platforms as well for pictures of our adventures!

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Instagram: search “galc_hawkeye"

African Agriculture Potential

This week we take a look at an article that was published last July, but the content still holds strong today. It discusses the challenges facing agriculture in Africa and the potential that agriculture has in Africa to pull many out of poverty. We encourage you to read the linked article and watch the short video included and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the world!

African Farmers Turn a Field into Data

Discussion Points

• Why is Africa so intriguing when it comes to food production and feeding its own people?
• The article states that agriculture is 11 times more effective to reduce extreme poverty than any other sector. Explain why you feel agriculture is so effective in decreasing poverty?
• The article and video share the challenge of getting youth involved in agriculture. What is your solution to this problem? Justify your response.
• What was the most interesting fact or thought that you took away from the linked article and why?

Climate and Grazing Land

We often see pieces on climate change and its impact on agriculture. Many of these articles are focused on the impact to cash crops,  but a recent study by the University of Minnesota takes a closer look at the impact of climate change on grazing areas. We invite you to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe!

Global Grazing Lands Increasingly Vulnerable to a Changing Climate

Discussion Points

• What did this study find? Be specific?
• Why can grazing land be at a higher risk due to climate change than some other areas?
• Many points were shared regarding climate change and global grazing areas. Of all the points shared which did you find most surprising and why?
• In your opinion what can be done to combat climate change in grazing areas? Justify your reasoning. 

Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya

Antibiotics are a tool that farmers and producers can use to battle sickness and disease with their livestock. But like many things in this world, if a good thing is overused or abused there can be harmful results. This is the case with antimicrobial resistance. Often times developing countries can be at a much higher risk of antimicrobial resistance for a variety of reasons. The linked video from the FAO shows how farmers in Kenya are protecting against antimicrobial resistance.

AMR in Kenya - Rising to the Challenge

Discussion Points

• What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? If someone walked up to you on the street and asked you what AMR is and why it is a concern what would you tell them?
• What are farmers in Kenya doing to combat and protect against AMR? Of these practices which do you feel is most important and why?
• In the video it stated that developing countries are at a higher risk of AMR. Why is this?
• The "one health" concept mentioned in the video calls on everyone to fight AMR. Why is this so important? How do we get everyone to "buy in" to fighting AMR?

Green Milk

Many are well aware of China’s growing demand for food speicifically meat. However, did you now that milk consumption is on the rise in China as well? The linked article takes a look at this demand and the potential impact expanding could have on the country if practices are not changed and improved. We encourage you to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide conversations around the world!

China’s Need to Turn Milk Green

Discussion Points

• What has been the trend of milk consumption in China over the past years and what direction is it heading?
• The article calls for a need to change current practices. What would be the impact if dairy production expanded in China and dairy producers kept doing “business as usual?”
• China is calling on other countries for advice and education to improve their practices. As a world community we can all learn so much from another. Whether we adapt others practices directly or it causes us to reflect, analyze, and improve things indirectly; we can truly learn so much from one another. We challenge you to pick an area of interest to you in agriculture (dairy, swine, crops, horticulture, natural resources, etc.) and research another countries practices, rules and regulations, facilities/equipment, etc. Have a discussion on what your home country can learn from that country and what you might do differently to improve things at home.

Gene Editing and Global Hunger

This week we take a look at the potential impact of gene editing and genetic modifications to impact hunger at a global level. This topic often can become controversial, but there are opportunities for great discussion if civil discussions can occur. We encourage you to utilize the discussion points below to have conversations around gene editing and genetic modifications in agriculture with others. It is important to have these conversations with those in agriculture, but we challenge you to have these conversations with those not directly tied to agriculture as well. Everyone is a consumer and needs to know their options and be able to make educated decisions.

Can gene editing provide a solution to global hunger?

Discussion Points

• How can genetically modified or gene edited crops help combat global hunger?
• What is the difference between genetically modifying and gene editing?
• What are the benefits and concerns with gene editing and gene modification? 
• Do some additional research. What does science say about the safety of gene editing and genetic modification of agricultural products?
• In your opinion what role will gene editing and gene modification play in the role of battling global hunger? What has it's role in the past been?

Global Learning in Agriculture

This blog post is coming to you from State College, Pennsylvania home of Penn State University. I am in town as part of the Global Learning in Agriculture Conference hosted by Global Teach Ag! This is an online conference happening Friday afternoon, but leading up to the capstone conference we have had weekly round table discussions and on-demand presentations revolving around bringing global agriculture to classrooms, utilizing technology, global agriculture in a domestic setting, and reaching diverse learners. As the week has gone on we have come across some interesting trends and points that educators, extension personnel, and agriculture professionals have discussed. I want to share some of these intriguing questions below and encourage the conversations to continue in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world. In fact you can even join the conference discussion on Twitter utilizing the hashtag #GLAG18!

Discussion Points

• Is it important to learn about agriculture at a global level? Explain your responses.
• Recently in our society and in countries around the world the word "agriculture" has picked up a bad stigma. Dr. Daniel Foster made the following statement, "Often, when talking to high school students, I ask them if they are interested in Ag and they say no. When I ask them if they want to work in food, with fiber, or to help solve natural resource issues...they say YES." Think about that for a minute. How have we gotten to this point? What can be done to overcome this?
• Tonight we had a great discussion about reaching and working with diverse learners and populations. It was noted time and time again that before anything trust must be established. What do you feel is the best way to gain trust with diverse learners/populations and why is this so important? 

U.S. and Japan Beef Trade

Agriculture products are traded around the world and are very important to agriculture markets and farmers bottom lines. This week we take a look at the relationship between Japan and the United States on trade, specifically Beef. We encourage you to look over the attached article and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world!

U.S. Urges Japan to Eliminate Import Restrictions on U.S. Beef

Discussion Points

• What is the history of beef trade between Japan and the United States?
• What trade agreements does your home country have with others? Why are these trade agreements so important?
• Recently I moderated a panel of agriculture experts who stressed the importance of building positive relationships with other countries to strengthen trade agreements. In your opinion what are the best ways to build strong relationships with other countries?
• What are your predictions on the future of U.S. beef imports into Japan and why?

Final Hurrah in Haiti

Today was our final full day in Haiti. It’s hard to believe how quickly our time has gone and how much has been accomplished. We started off the morning going in many different directions. Some ventured to the preschool and elementary to teach, others spearheaded more tractor operation training, and a small group tested soil in the lab. These activities took us right up to lunch.

Following lunch we all made our way to teach an English lesson at the elementary. Once we had completed our lesson we split into two groups. One prepped a meal for the feeding center and the other helped move medical equipment from the clinic up to the university. We then came together to make our way to the feeding center to distribute the meal to the young children in the community. Upon our return we took time to recognize the students from UCCC for their hard work over the past week. We presented certificates of recognition for “Tractor Fundamentals” and “Problem Solving Workshop.” It was evident the Haitian students were proud of their achievements from the past week.

We concluded our day with volleyball and more intense games of spoons. It has truly been an unforgettable experience with a group that has become more like a family than friends. Great things were achieved this past week, but there is a lot more work yet too do. We look forward to continuing to collaborate and move agriculture forward with our partners in Haiti. Stay tuned for some exciting news from this partnership coming in the next couple of weeks!

Sunday Reflections

Today was a little bit slower paced. After enjoying cinnamon rolls for breakfast we walked up to check out Sunday School before church. We then attended the church service and heard beautiful music and a great message from JeanJean. On Sunday’s the kitchen help gets the day off which means it was our time to cook and do dishes. Thanks to Julie for spearheading lunch. Following lunch we had some down time to reflect on what we have accomplished in the past couple days. Some enjoyed the hammock, others visited while soaking in the sun, and overall we took time to relax. Something that most of us do not take time to do in our fast pace lives back home. We truly can learn a lot from our friends in Haiti. We could all take a little more time to slow down and reflect on things.

Late afternoon we went for a hike to a cave in the side of the mountain. It was great to get out and about and see where they collect a fertilizer source for crops. They collect guano from the cave for fertilizer. It was also great to eye many different crops and livestock on our hike to the cave. After our hike we once again enjoyed refreshing sour orange juice from the local juice bar.

Tonight we enjoyed a barbecue chicken dinner and the wonderful sounds of the local men’s choir. This choir has been together for over 37 years. They even invited us to join them and sing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We look forward to our final full day in Haiti tomorrow.

Mingling in the Market

We woke up to more rain this morning which made us rework our teaching plans for the morning. Yes! We had students show up on a Saturday morning for class. By the time most of the students had arrived the rain had stopped. This allowed training time for a couple more students on the post hole digger operation and general tractor operation. By mid morning we began assembling a two row planter side by side with the students and ran some seeds through it to test it and teach them how to make adjustments. It was rewarding to see so many students show up on a Saturday morning to learn more.

After a morning of education we loaded up and headed to Pignon to the market. The overnight rain left the roads a little sloppy. Thanks to the expert driving skills of our driver we arrived in Pignon with no problems. The market was packed with locals purchasing everything from clothes to medication to agricultural products. It was great to see how they marketed fruits, vegetables, meat, and livestock.

After we returned to campus we ventured out to deliver more rice and beans to area families. It was great to connect with the local Haitians and see more of the countryside. After our delivereies we visited the juice bar again and enjoyed a refreshing sour orange juice. We tried to catch a sunset from the third floor of the university tonight, but the clouds spoiled our plans. We enjoyed pizza for supper before an evening of conversations and cards with great friends!

Mudding With the Bus

Today we had an awesome opportunity to take a field trip to the Hinche area to explore agriculture. A group of about 35 from UCCC and Hawkeye had this opportunity thanks to the sponsorship of Orchard Hill Church farmers from Iowa. Due to the unusual rain yesterday the roads where a bit slippery to say the least. I think it is safe to say it was the first time most of us have been “mudding” on a bus. Before lunch we were able to visit an area outside Hinche that is partnered with Whispering Roots, an organization in Omaha, Nebraska. They are producing about 12,000 tilapia in cages and have large gardens. It was great to see the interaction between the farmers from Hinche and the students from UCCC excahnage information and have great discussions. While in the area we, also, stopped by and visited an organization that shares farming practices with Haitian farmers. They focus on plant and crop production, but had aquaculture as well.

The group enjoyed a chicken lunch at a cozy restaurant in Hinche, before we returned to the Caiman area. This was a rare experience for the students and it was great to see their excitement from the day. When we returned to campus we trekked out to deliver rice and beans to families in the area. We are grateful to Randy and Jill Konken for purchasing the rice and beans to be delivered. While walking back to campus we found some area children playing soccer and joined in for a bit. Many took the opportunity to get some additional physical activity with a volleyball game on campus upon our return.

After dinner tonight Nelson, who is a former witch doctor, joined us to share his story. It was an eye opening experience for the group into the history and culture of Haiti. There is no questioning the dedication of the students here in Haiti. They are excited to join us on Saturday morning to learn more and help us assemble the one row planter.