National FFA Organization

Back in the United States - January 16

2010-01-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

This is the last blog entry for the 2010 ILSSO trip to China.

After a very long day of flights, we are all back in the United States of America and glad to be home!

Our last morning in China was spent packing which was a challenge for many due to all the shopping we did on the trip. We rode the Magnev train to the airport, most people have heard this referred to as a "bullet train". The train operates off of Electromagnetic levitation and goes 430 km per hour which is approximately 267 mph. The ride was a lot of fun; a normal 30-45 minute bus ride to the airport only took us 7 minutes.

I am very thankful to have gotten to know each of the participants on our trip; they were a great group. We had an experience of a lifetime.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Cindy Hefner
Program Manager
National FFA Organization

China - Last Day in China - January 14

2010-01-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today was our last day in China!

We started the day by visiting the Yu Gardens. It was a classical Chinese garden with ponds, trees, and buildings. We took lots of pictures and tried to envision the beautiful colors of the summer. Then we hit the streets starting at a bazaar right outside of the gardens. Here we battled and bargained for souvenirs. Most people stopped at McDonalds for a delicious and nutritious lunch. For those who had money left, we went to Nanjing Road where all of the high class, brand name stores are. We, however, took advantage of the cheaper, side road stores with mostly knock off items. We were able to get good products for a much better price.

The highlight of the day was a Chinese acrobat show. Michael Dolch risked his life by volunteering to participate in the knife throwing event. Luckily, he was blindfolded and no knives were actually thrown at him, even though he thought there was. The show was amazing. It was a great combination of gymnastics, magic tricks, juggling, and beautiful dancing. It was a great finale to our Chinese experience. We look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow.

God bless America.

China - Day Seven - January 13

2010-01-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

What a big day we have had today! We experienced a lot of things, which will be memorable.

We started our day at a goose farm. It was rather cold, however it was still very much an adventure. We saw 5,500 geese on the farm, and the farm produced 165,000 eggs each year!

We then traveled to a tea farm and saw a very large operation. The farm has been operating for two generations. We were then invited into the owner’s house where we were treated to some tea and homegrown oranges. We also were able to tour her house.

A silk farm was our next stop. Who would have ever guessed a worm (which grew to full size in 25 days) could produce such a valuable product. We also had the opportunity to watch how silk was collected and made. A stop at the gift shop was also an adventure. Seeing how many products could be made from such a simple resource is amazing!

Some of us opted to go to a boat ride at night. It showcased some of Shanghai Huangpu River’s buildings, lit up to display a different view you would not see during the day. Seeing the World Finance Center (which is the second largest building in the world) lit up in such a colorful array of colors was the highlight of the cruise.

Gu Mai Dang Lao (Old McDonald)

o Mr. John Rakestraw – Agra Holdings
o Michelle - VA
o Ashley - TN
o Amanda - NE
o Nathan - FL
o Tyson - OR
o Jordan - NE
o Bev - MO
o Ellen - IL
o Chris - TN
o Taylor - VA
o Jonathon - MI

China - Day Six - January 12

2010-01-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

After two enjoyable days in Xian, it was time to move on to our next location, Suzhou. We boarded our plane after being treated very respectfully by our young, “mei nu” flight attendants (that means beautiful ladies in Chinese)!

After 2 ½ hours in the air, we landed in Shanghai and enjoyed some American KFC for lunch on the bus. There, we met our tour guides, Helen and Lily, who explained some of the differences between Shanghai and Beijing. This allowed us to gain insight into the beliefs of government, language, and culture of the people in Shanghai versus people from Beijing.

We quickly traveled from Shanghai to Suzhou where we toured the Uni-President Enterprises Corporation, one of the largest instant noodle and beverage distributors in China. We were surprised to learn that this corporation has joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks, Coldstone and 7 Eleven throughout Asia. We toured the facility and learned about the mass production of these products.

Since Suzhou is known as the Venice of the East, it was no surprise to find ourselves wrapping up our day with a ride through the famous city canals. We even stopped in the city to tour some of the markets. This brief visit allowed us to see what a true Chinese village is like. Although we only have one more day in Suzhou, we are thoroughly enjoying seeing and experiencing another Chinese city.

Zai jen, (Goodbye) !

Team Yin Yang
Neil Bringle, Tennessee
Katie Frenzen, Nebraska
Austin Gibson, Florida
Lora Gonzalez, Texas
Kiersten Kasey, Illinois
Allyson Ladd, Iowa
Whitney Perkins, Virginia
Caitlyn Prichard, Florida
Ken Quick, New York
Erica Ramsey, Idaho
Zach Wakeman, Virginia
Nick West, Oregon

China – Day Five – January 11

2010-01-11T14:49:00.001-08:00

Day Five – January 11

Have you ever heard the rumor that foreign countries such as China do not easily accept American people? Well we, as the Karate Kids have all agreed and come to the conclusion that this rumor is false. Let us explain…

We started off the morning by traveling outside the city of Xian to a local farming village. When we arrived, we were greeted with a very warm welcome from the farmers as well as several government officials. This farming village consisted of over 300 greenhouses covering approximately 10,000 acres. This particular village is considered to be one of the most advanced farming operations in the area. We were surprised to see what looked like dug out pits, with clay walls, and covered with straw tops. Each of us had the opportunity to go down through a tunnel to visit the underground greenhouses. We viewed many types of vegetables and also realized that the inside very closely resembled the typical American greenhouse. The farmers at this village make on average, 5500 Yuan, which equates to nine hundred U.S. dollars annually.

Our next stop for the day was a “prominent” Chinese farmer’s home. For this to be considered an upscale home, we were again surprised at what we found. A 55’’ flat screen, disco lights, and no indoor plumbing or centralized heating.

After enjoying a buffet style lunch consisting of spaghetti and potatoes, we then headed to the Wild Goose Pagoda. This being an active place of worship, we witnessed several monks and local people practicing Buddhism. Just like many of the museums and buildings we have previously visited, the temple was no exception. Being very intricately detailed of gold, we again stood in awe. Our tour guide Ms. Linda informed our group that 70% of the Chinese population claim atheists or no religion at all. The thought of heaven and hell is not based on religion, but is a part of their culture.

What have each of us taken for granted the most on this trip? American cuisine! Following the Wild Goose Pagoda, we got to treat ourselves to Dairy Queen, Coffee, and Pizza Hut. After one blizzard at DQ, several went back for a second round.

Not one of us will deny the fact that it seems as if all we did today was eat & eat! Next on the agenda for the 46 students in the group was another buffet style dinner featuring fish, french fries, and again spaghetti. Tonight we also reflected on our experiences while in China thus far, we discussed quality of living, government differences, and things each of us take for granted daily. As our night comes to an end, many of us are looking forward to massages and a few rounds of cards before an early morning flight to Shanghai. To our many followers, we love you all very much and anxiously await sharing our stories and pictures with each of you.

From the polluted city of Xian,
Karate Kids

China – Day Four – January 10

2010-01-11T14:47:00.001-08:00

After a 12 hour train ride, we arrived in Xian. Many slept well on the train while others were not as fortunate. After settling in our hotel we headed to the Terracotta Warrior Factory and Museum. On the way to the countryside we were able to see many different levels of poverty in rural China.

The Terracotta Warriors, which are the 8^th World Wonder, are clay figures that were discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well. We were fortunate to shake the farmer’s hand today. After the Terracotta Warriors we visited the Xian City Wall. Many of us took a tandem bike ride around the wall where we saw the Chinese New Year Decorations and the city skyline. To top off the day we had a great dinner where we tasted 20 traditional Chinese Dumplings and watched a Chinese Opera Show, complete with original costumes and instruments. One thing we all noticed throughout the day was the high levels of smog in the air. It makes us grateful to be from the United States. We continue to have great experiences in China, although we miss your great cooking and hospitality! We wish you all well at home and will talk to you in a few days.

PS- Please send toilet paper and chocolate as soon as possible!

China – Day Three – January 9

2010-01-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hello America!

Today we had the “greatest” day of this trip so far. We went to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Great Wall of China! The Great Wall was much steeper than we originally thought. Everyone made it up but not everyone made it to the top. Those lucky few who did make it to the top were privileged with breathtaking views down the wall and the surrounding mountain range.

After finishing the hardest stairmaster in the world, we cooled down by going to the Cloisonné Factory. Cloisonné is the ancient Chinese art of bronze sculpture making. Everything from flower vases to chopsticks was created there.

However, most of the souvenirs for the day came from the pearl factory that we went to after lunch. Thousands of pearl and jade necklaces, rings, bracelets, and more filled a giant warehouse that dazzled with translucent beauty.

And to top off the “greatest” day we drank some tea and went shopping. We took part in a ceremonial tea service and then headed to the night market. At the night market everyone was able to strike up deals and walk away happy.

Now, we are headed to the overnight train ride across the Chinese countryside. See you soon!

China – Day two - January 8

2010-01-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

As our day started off earlier in the morning on January 8, 2010 here in Beijing, we headed out to the Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market to discover the bountiful fruit, vegetable, and meat supply for its people. This wholesale market was founded in 1988 and covers a whopping 150,000 square meters. The main products for sale include vegetables, fruit, meat, seeds, oil, aquatic products, seasonings, eggs, tea, etc. We first viewed the fruit and vegetable markets and were greeted by smiling faces, one who had visited with us the night before at our disco party at the Cattle Yard/Hot Pot dinner. We saw fruits that were known, such as kiwis, oranges, and apples and many that were unknown like dragon fruit and a HUGE pokey fruit that smelled wonderful on the inside. Next, we experienced the shocking view of the meat market. It was highly unsanitary and would never meet USDA and HACCP standards. There was pork carcasses being stored and sold in the back of a van and inside the building, the meat was being placed, cut and sold from wooden tables (NO REFRIGERATION!!!). The sight, as well as the smell was completely disturbing to our American eyes. But this is just a different perspective of Chinese Agriculture and how it is lacking in modernization and progressiveness. We can tell you how much more we appreciate the American cheeseburger now than ever before.

Moving from an unattractive picture of China, we got to experience the beautiful botanical gardens of China. The most amazing landscaping we have ever seen was displayed in multiple greenhouses. They were set up in various habitats and terrains. We got to climb through boulders in a jungle to view the scenery from above. There was also a magnificent display of cacti and desert like landscaping. After adventuring and admiring through the gorgeous gardens, we made a stop at the Chinese snack shack in the visitor’s rest area in the garden to devour some Chinese ice cream and American snacks. We gave them more business than they probably have had in a long time. As we exited the botanical gardens, a little mischief had taken place as a snowball fight broke out. We were only half way done with our day and we were getting a little hungry.

We headed to lunch for a ‘Lazy Susan’ style meal in a very fancy restaurant. We tasted some very delicious Chinese foods, including eggplant and ostrich egg, and some more traditional foods like beef and sweet and sour chicken. We all continued to practice our chopstick skills.

After lunch we headed to the Cangdafu Dairy Farm that milks 2, 200 dairy cattle. The dairy farm was large, and it was neat to see the workers in action as they herded and fed the cows, still with traditional bells. The dairy’s manager was very happy to show us the dairy and we saw every part of the farm, from the milking parlors to the corn storage barns. Many of us asked the dairy manager questions about their breeding and nutrition programs and it was a good opportunity to exchange ideas with each other. This farm even imports alfalfa hay from America! The dairy had some neat buildings and looked quite different from the barns of America. As we departed the dairy farm, the managers offered us complimentary yogurt.

Our next stop was a soybean operation that specializes in research and also makes tofu. The managers of this operation were extremely passionate about what they do and were very willing to share their business with us. The managers allowed us to sample many different dried fruit chips that they sell, including carrot, banana, and apple chips. We then got to tour the process of tofu-making from start to finish, and the managers explained the process of exporting their tofu product to Japan. The workers who make the tofu work in very sanitary, but cold conditions as they dry the ‘soy paper’ to make it into tofu. As we left the soybean operation, many of us bought the products that the operation sells.

Today was a great chance to learn the culture of China. Our tour guides taught us to sing a Chinese song, Jasmine Flower, on the bus. The Chinese are very gracious and hard-working people. Most are very aware of agriculture.

We had a day full of learning! Everyone’s excited to climb the Great Wall tomorrow and see the final sites in Beijing!

First day in China.

2010-01-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Ni Hao! We are finally here! After a 12 hour flight with our backpacks packed, we begin our journey exploring the rich history China has to offer.

Today, January 7, 2010 (possibly your January 6) we recovered quickly from the jet lag and started our day bright eyed and bushy tailed in Beijing, China with the focus of today being the history of China.

As we made our way to the Temple of Heaven, we joined the local retirees in there morning activities. Some of these were dancing, individual exercises, and a place to socialize with friends. The Temple of Heaven was constructed about 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. It was built as a place for people to gather and pray to heaven for good harvests with rituals of animal sacrifice. We were impressed with the detailing and architecture of these structures. Nothing in China’s architecture is by chance; everything has a meaning. For example, the color gold symbolizes the sun, wealth and royalty, green means people and red means power.

As we ended our time at the Temple of Heaven, we headed to Tiananmen Square were we saw the National Museum, the mausoleum of general Mao Zedong, where for the past forty years he has been on display for people to pay their respect, and a statue that represented the people’s heroes, the great hall of people and the Mao Zedong. This statue is also where the center of Beijing is located.

The Forbidden City was used until 1924 by the royal family. With 9,999, it was hard to wrap our minds around how big it really was. We braved the cold and spent two hours walking about the Forbidden City. We could have spent a whole day there as the Forbidden City covers about the same of a small town. We had interesting experience as we toured. We witnessed a naked man doing a push-up, while videotaping himself. There was also a brief snowball fight with people from Florida who had never been in a snowball fight before. We learned a ton from our tour guides (Lou Lou and Lynn), who really know their China history, and had a great time there.

We enjoyed a nice piping hot lunch and headed out to the United States Embassy, where we met with international businessmen. Getting thru security was a bit of a challenge though. With the fifty of us trying to get thru security, the thick glass doors, and multiple metal decors, it was a challenge. The businessmen we met with had a very important role in creating a good relationship with China and creating ties that will help the U.S in the long run. In a question and answer session, we were provided with some outstanding information about China and the U.S and how they worked together for the future of both countries.

To finish our first full day in China we headed to the Fuhua cattle farm. It provides seventy percent of Beijing’s meat market with product. Fuhau means “Big Ranch” and it sure was large! By the time we made it to the grounds the sun was setting and we were unable to truly grasp the size of the surrounding operation. There were three thousand head of cattle on the farm and we could most defiantly confirm that fact by the smell. The China yellow cow, Simmental, and Limousine breeds were present in the genetics of the herd. All the cattle had a rope tied around their horns for easy access to herd. Conveniently dinner was served that evening in the farm’s restaurant. The hot pot dinner included lamb and beef meat. Boiling water with vegetables and seasoning allowed us to grasp the traditional taste. After eating a disco ball was dropped from the ceiling and a disco was started! It was a BLAST! Everyone danced the night away including the waitresses. They laughed at our mad dancing abilities and videotaped us. They could not understand us but the universal language of dance and smiles bound us together to end our great first day in China!

The Karate Kids,
Emily Achen - MN
Lance Atwater - NE
Amie Burke - IL
Caitlin Cribbs - FL
Michael Dolch - IA
Macy Eaves - TX
Jared Henderson - MO
Austin Larrowe - VA
Ivan Martes - PR
Hannah Miller - KS
Dani Saathoff - NE
Morgan Shaver - NY

Serve Out Loud!

2009-10-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

Lead Out Loud! At National Convention this week you will see and hear these words everywhere! Before each session the national officers give us words of encouragement on how we can do just that, Lead Out Loud! But let’s take it a step further - the theme of our fourth general session of the week is Serve Out Loud and the National FFA, as you probably already know, has set goals for our organization to do this in a big way. The Million Hour Challenge (MHC) is a special initiative that focuses on service learning and brings together the hours served by FFA members to reach a goal of one million.

According to Michelle Sullivan, leader of FFA’s Living to Serve initiative, there are five categories in which chapters can log hours: education, government, healthy lifestyle, environment, and social and human services. By logging the most hours in these areas a chapter can win $2,500 to reinvest into their service project. Winners of the $2,500 award this year, sponsored by Monsanto, are as follows: Government- Forest Lake FFA Chapter from Forest Lake, MN; Social and Human Services- Perrydale FFA Chapter from Amity, OR; Education- Ponchatoula FFA Chapter from Ponchatoula, LA; Environmental- Rosewood FFA Chapter from Goldsboro, NC; and Healthy Lifestyles- Waupaca FFA Chapter from Waupaca, WI.

The Ponchatoula FFA Chapter was very interested in diversity. The chapter wanted to focus on diversity and helping the community know what diversity is; that it isn’t just race, it is education, age, geographic location and so much more. The chapter held a conference for their community and invited churches, schools, and other organizations. Chapters all across the county have been creative with service projects and are getting actively involved in their communities.

If your chapter hasn’t already gotten involved with the Million Hour Challenge now is the time to start! As members it is our obligation to serve and this initiative is the perfect motivation to do so. By serving out loud, we also LEAD OUT LOUD!

~Kelsey Ross, National FFA Convention newsroom staff

The Challenge of Tomorrow

2009-10-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night at the fourth general session the president of Monsanto, Hugh Grant, spoke to FFA members of the challenges that face American agriculture today and that will only get more difficult as we approach tomorrow. Among these challenges he listed food, water, climate change, and hunger; and that agriculture is a big piece of the solution. Grant told members that we need leaders in agriculture now more than ever. “Agriculture is one of the oldest industries in the world,” Grant said, “and today it’s one of the coolest.” FFA members couldn’t agree more!

Grant informed members that we will have to produce more with less, starting with land. In 1850 there was a half acre for every person in the world; today we are down to a quarter of an acre. He also said that we will have to “squeeze more crop out of every drop” of water. And with these constantly decreasing resources we must produce as much food in the next 50 years as we have over the past 10,000.

With 98 percent of the country who do not live on farms, and 2% who do live on farms the country tends to forget how much they depend on farming for our growth. Grant continued, “People don’t even have to think about where food comes from, it’s just there.” For this reason, he said “we need to tell the amazing story of agriculture.”

Facebook was one of his suggestions to do this. Grant believes that by using Facebook, that the 2 percent who do live on farms can share the promise, story, and power of agriculture with the much larger 98 percent who do not.

Of the challenge he presented, Grant asked, “How do we do it?” His answer? “We do it loud!” Grant closed with this motivational and yet bold statement, “More and more the world is counting on you and the decision you will make.”

FFA members: What decision will you make?

~Kelsey Ross, National FFA Convention newsroom staff

Put a Little Sizzle in Your Day—Spontaneous Performances Help the Community Connect to FFA

2009-10-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

The smell of fries, cooked noodles, hamburgers, and fresh baked pretzels all mingle together.

The anxious sounds of two hundred hungry teenagers and adults fill the air. People crowd around tables and stand in line awaiting their turn to order.

Then, the sound of a guitar, fiddle, and banjo joined with harmonic voices to rise above the noise. The strains of “Sweet Home Alabama” fill the four story space—the National FFA Convention Sizzle Performance has begun.

This was the scene that unfolded at the food court in Circle Center mall as the first of a chain of performances—known as Sizzle Performances— began.. By sharing their talents with the Indianapolis downtown community through these impromptu and spontaneous performances, the National FFA Talent group hopes to bring the message of FFA to the public and create another a new way to Lead Out Loud.

According to Mandy Hazlett, coordinator of the Sizzle Performances, the idea behind the performances was to bring spontaneous entertainment to the crowd attending the FFA convention and to the downtown community. The performances were modeled after popular impromptu events put on by a group called Improv Everywhere.

Members of National FFA Convention Talent, such as Aura Smith of Fayette, Missouri, were selected to participate in these impromptu events because of their ability to perform. Those talents helped make an impact on FFA members like Sam Schafer and Amanda Wolfe. Both Schafer and Wolfe joined in the performance by clapping and singing. “It was exciting!” said Schafer.

Another Sizzle Performance will take place at the last convention session. Also, the talents of these performers and many others will be featured throughout the convention and at the National FFA Talent Revue.

~Dorothy Spencer, National FFA Convention newsroom staff

Just a spoonful of Purell keeps H1N1 at bay…in the most delightful way!

2009-10-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

If you’re like me, you’re a big hugger.

And there is no place like the National FFA Convention to share the love: reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones.

But in this media-fueled atmosphere where H1N1 is a reality, is it o.k. to give a friend a hug? What about shaking hands with the national officers if you’re an award winner?

Most experts say that taking a few simple precautions can help prevent the spread of the flu virus:

1. Don’t touch nose, eyes and mouth! If you touch something diseased (and we don’t mean your little brother) and then touch your face, you can spread the sickness. Don’t!

2. Get enough sleep! Especially during convention when you’re running around, visiting the Career Show, watching the sessions and enjoying our lovely host city, it’s still important to get enough rest.

3. Hand sanitizer is your new BFF! Throughout Conseco Fieldhouse and other convention sites, you will find hand sanitizer. Use it! It contains alcohol that kills those nasty germs.

4. If you’re sick, stay home! Don’t contaminate others if you’re not feeling well. Just stay at home (or in your hotel room) catching up on daytime TV. Glenn Close is on The View today…didn’t you just LOVE her in The Stepford Wives?!

5. Cover your coughs! Speaking of Grandma Betty, she’s been telling you this since you were a wee lad/lass. Take her advice.

6. Wash, wash, wash your hands! No wittiness to add here. Just please do it.

7. DON’T CALL IT SWINE FLU! You can be an educator! Inform anyone who uses the phrase “swine flu” that they can’t get H1N1 from eating bacon or petting a piggy. Millions of swine producers nationwide thank you.

Now by following these easy steps, you can stay as healthy and germ free and keep your fellow convention-goers the same.

Have a great time in Indy!

Peace and love,

Dustin Petty, National FFA Convention Newsroom Staff

Coming Soon: The New Indiana Convention Center

2009-10-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

The difference a year makes at the 82nd National FFA Convention.

A year ago, standing in between the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) and the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS) was a downtown Indianapolis landmark on the verge of destruction -- but in the name of new construction. The RCA Dome was visibly under demolition and behind barricades along south Capitol Street last year as FFA members walked from different convention sites.

This time around, however, the Dome is gone and a rapidly advancing addition to the convention center is already well underway -- an improvement FFA members will see in completion at the 84th National FFA Convention in 2011.

With an anticipated completion date in December of 2010, ICC will be expanded to a whopping 1.23 million square feet -- or more than 28 acres under one roof. Currently, it offers just over 500,000 square feet of convention space to the FFA.

All of that area -- from the 400,000-square foot open area housing this year's Career Show and shopping mall to the many separate rooms housing events ranging from delegate meetings to the FFA Alumni Auction -- is used up by the folks in blue and gold for this week's convention. That space, of course, doesn't include the meeting rooms and other spaces used in downtown Indianapolis hotels as well as events at Conseco Fieldhouse (CF), LOS and the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

As for the Dome, the former home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts came tumbling to the ground in December of 2008 thanks to a controlled demolition -- roughly two months after 2008's 81st National FFA Convention. Since then, work on the ICC site has been in fast forward.

FFA members transitioning between the ICC and CF (site of eight of the nine general sessions) or LOS (home of Wednesday night's Toby Keith concert and Saturday's prestigious American Degree Ceremony) will certainly notice the skeleton of Indianapolis' convention center upgrade taking shape.

But in just a year -- remember the difference it makes? -- that metal frame skeleton will be completely covered and the workers will be hustling to finish the details inside the new ICC, bringing Indianapolis' convention profile even higher.

So after four great years for FFA in Indy, FFA members still have more to look forward to in the coming years.

What more can you ask for?

~Geoffrey Miller, National FFA Convention Newsroom Staff

Last Day!

2009-06-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!

This morning we left our very plush accommodations at the Marriot on the Pacific Ocean to head back to San José, the capital of Costa Rica. On our way we stopped at a gift shop and saw crocodiles at a bridge over a national park. Upon arriving in San José, we had time to shop at the Mercado, a street market with various handicrafts and souvenirs. Afterwards we headed out to Café Britt, a coffee processing facility. The staff there gave us an interesting, informative, and entertaining tour of the farm, complete with costumes and coffee. We ended the evening with supper and cultural dancing!! We have had a great time, but are tired and ready for tomorrow's VERY EARLY flights!

La Cosecha- Victor, Janet, Brian, Shane, Garrett, Melody, Eric, Patrick, Lisa

Free Day in Paradise

2009-06-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today everyone got to do whatever they wanted. From zip lining and sand volleyball to massages, shopping, and tanning by the pool, we had fun. The adventure-seeking members flew across 6 zip lines, swung on a Tarzan swing, and repelled quickly down a tree. The beach was a slight disappointment. Instead of gorgeous white sand, it was muddy and rocky. But not everything can be perfect, right? After attempting some pool volleyball (which the girls lost by about 50 points) we tried sand volleyball. That went much better. We visited the nearby town of Jaco and ate lunch there. We quickly found KFC, Subway, and a little pizza shop. Definitely a nice break from rice and beans. We did a little shopping and found some sweet souvenirs: dresses, jewelry, t-shirts, and wooden trinkets. After returning from town, we played a little soccer match. Brian G1 (aka Brian Gray) caused injuries on the field. From nailing Elizabeth in the stomach to hitting Kristin in the head, Brian was kicking butt and taking names. He scored three goals, tying with Gustan, our soccer-loving tour guide. (He calls it football and says that our football should be called "rugby lite".) Surprisingly, it did not rain today. We ended our activities with supper at the Mariott. Today was "super fun" and we really enjoyed our day of relaxation at the resort!

Pura vida,

the Penguins

Day 4 Costa Rica Experience

2009-06-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Blog for June 21

Welcome from the Kinkajoos (a type of monkey)! Today after leaving from our host families, we traveled to a sugar cane plantation. We learned how to convert sugar cane into brown sugar or Dulce T. We sampled it with coffee and ate potato mash with crepes and molasses. Afterwards, we went to the actual sugar cane plantation where we saw different varieties of sugar cane and learned about their organic practices. We had lunch at La Hacienda which was a buffet lunch overlooking the beautiful valley. They showed us how to extract the juice from sugar cane and made us some molasses candy and brown sugar. It was amazing! We saw Macadamia nut trees and surrounding plants related to the potato family that gave off natural pesticide. Next, we saw the sorting proccess of the macadamia nuts and even cracked a few. We played games with the local youth including: volleyball, basketball, electricity, and corners. Kirk even found a couple of Snickers at the local super market(It was kind of a big deal)! After meeting up with our host families the group got together for an exciting fiesta, complete with bar-b-que and dancing! This is where Kyle found his future sweet woman from Holland (This was another big deal). We learned to Salsa, Dan did some shagging (big deal), Kyle tried dancing with the woman from Holland, and we all danced the night away! We went home with our host families for the second night, which was the biggest deal of all! (Btw, Kyle got locked out of the bathroom and Mr. Big Deal himself- Kyle- got it open with a credit card.)

Day 5 Costa Rica Experience

2009-06-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Blog for June 22

The day started off on a sad note as we departed from our "new" houses (a.k.a. our host family's houses). Then we were off to start our adventure at the local farmer's cooperative where we were given the opportunity to purchase an authentic machete. After that we split into our different buses and headed to the mini-vegetable farm. We were able to see how they grow and package different types of produce including: carrots, broccoli, beats, celery, parsley, and cabbage. It was interesting to learn that just four employees work over eleven acres of land doing everything by hand. The majority of the vegetables went to a local market but some was exported to the United States, primarily Miami, as well as Italy. We then traveled to a coffee plantation, where we learned how coffee beans were harvested. We were able to learn the process from seed to store. This was also a family operated farm where all of their merchandise is distributed over the Internet and in local stores. We drank lots of coffee and ate yummy chocolate covered coffee beans. Some of us bought wayyy too much stuff for our beloved family back home. Afterwards, we had a very late lunch. Followed by a very, very long bus ride through the rain....with only one bathroom break! We finally arrived at our hotel (airconditioned!! yippee!!) at 7:15pm. We were greeted with a refreshing pineapple drink as we departed from the bus and checked into our hotel rooms. We were also able to try a mimone fruit, a spiny fruit with a big seed in the middle surrounded by a sweet, fleshy fruit. The day ended with a delicious dinner, and a celebration of Melody's birthday.

2009-06-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Post for Saturday, June 20, 2009.....

Good news! Everyone survived whitewater rafting!! What a great time for all who went. We enjoyed a wonderful trip down the Sarapiqui River. The guides were fantastic and we saw several types of wildlife when we weren't paddling! We saw monkeys, toucans, parrots, king fishers, porcupine, and sloth. Our fearless leader, Cindy, took an extra "swim" in the water when she fell out of the raft! We also had 3 other "swimmers" but everyone had a blast! The other thing we did today was tour a pineapple farm. We got to learn all about the whole process from planting shoots to the harvest. The pineapples are planted and harvested by hand. The pineapples are unloaded at the plant by floating in water. They are then rinsed, dried, sorted, boxed and stored at 45 degrees. We learned that pineapple does not have to be yellow in order to be ripe, and should be stored at 45 degrees to prevent it from fermenting. All in all it was a great day!!!

2009-06-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 19th

Welcome to the jungle! Today we started our day with a nature walk through the Arenal Hanging Bridges. We saw an abundance of wildlife and were able to experience the humidity of the rainforest. Three species of monkeys were spotted including the howler, spider,and white faced. Additionally, we encountered some posionous creatures such as the posion dart frog and two viper snakes. Toucans, macaws, and various other bird species were spotted at different times throughout the walk. The highlight of our hike was crossing the suspended bridges, some reaching heights of nearly 250 feet! We then enjoyed lunch on our own in the town of La Fortuna, and were able to have some free time to browse local stores. Loading back onto the bus, we traveled to a local farm where we learned how brown sugar was made in the early days. We then continued to a local school where young children demonstrated traditional Costa Rican dances. Just as the rain began to fall, we made it back to the farm to taste fresh fruits like pineappe, papaya, bananas, starfruit, lime, and passion fruit among others. Next, we ventured to the hot springs to enjoy a relaxing night. We then finished up our day with a dinner of steak, chicken, rice, beans, and rice pudding.

Peace Out
International Harvesters
Melissa McDonald, Lara Davis, Dustin Doherty, TJ Hines, Ben Hutto, Brian Holman, David Gibbens, Rex Price, Kurt VanDeWalle

Costa Rica - Day 1

2009-06-18T19:30:00.001-07:00

Hola! Today was day one of the Costa Rican Proficiency trip. We left Miami and flew to San José. We boarded the charter buses and we were on our way to finally eat some lunch at El Rodeo. We experienced new dishes such as: cold fish soup, palm hearts, and chimchurri sauce; however, some were familiar such as steak and chicken. After eating, we headed to Alajuela to tour the Buttterfly Farm. Our guide Jonathon informed us about butterfly species and anatomy as well as the connection between humans and butterflies as part of the the ecosystem. Following the tour, we took some very winding, narrow roads in the dark and the rain. Finally, after some scary turns, we arrived at our hotel, the Volcano Lodge in La Fortuna-San Carlos. More stories from the trip to come tomorrow!

Adiós from La Cosecha (the harvest):

Melody Brewen, Missouri
Lisa Schluttenhofer, Indiana
Victor & Janet Fiorini, California
Garrett Owen, North Carolina
Shane Blaes, Kansas
Patrick Savelle, Georgia
Brian Hills, Illinois
Eric Kamler, Nebraska

Back in the USA!

2009-06-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

We have all arrived back in the US! What an incredible twelve days we had in Asia. The I-CAL program was fortunate to have twelve amazing college students apart of the program this year. The students truly had a thrust for learning and experiencing international agriculture. Now that they are back in the US, they have been given the challenge of helping others understand international agriculture, marketing and trade. While we enjoyed our time visiting the many cultural sites China and Vietnam have to offer (the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Olympics Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, and dragon boat races), it was the tours of dairy farms, feed mills, and aquaculture operations that truly made the program memorable and educational.

We would like to thank everybody who read the blog while we were overseas. We are lucky to have been able to work with the US Grains Foundation again this year to provide such an amazing opportunity for our collegiate students.

Until next year!

Marty Tatman
Education Specialist
National FFA Organization

Our Last Day in Asia

2009-05-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

We began our last day on our trip throughout Vietnam and China in Hong Kong at the Dragon Boat Races Festival. The annual festival hosts many teams from across the area to race wooden row boats with carvings of dragon heads and tails. Each boat holds about twenty rowers and a drummer in the front of the boat. It was fun to see the excitement everyone had for this annual race and experience an important Chinese tradition first hand. The Dragon Boat Races Festival was a very enjoyable event and a great close to our tour.

After the Dragon Boat Races Festival, we went to a huge outlet mall in Hong Kong to spend the afternoon shopping. We ended our night with the light show at Victoria Harbor and a celebratory dinner at an Italian restaurant where we shared our most memorable experiences of the program. After dinner, we watched a power point presentation of photos and memories from the past two weeks. It truly was a wonderful last night overseas.

This trip has been a life changing experience for twelve students from across the United States. It is hard to believe that our time in Asia has already come to an end. However, I-CAL team members realize that their work with helping others understand international agriculture and trade is just beginning. After arriving back in the states, I-CAL team members will give presentations in their local communities to share what they have learned about international agriculture and trade.
Heather McLean – University of Tennessee at Martin
Londa Johnson – University of Wisconsin – River Falls

To the Peak of Asian Agriculture

2009-05-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

After a satisfying breakfast in Guangzhou, we said goodbye to Sam Niu, from the U.S. Grains Council’s office in Beijing, before boarding the train for Hong Kong. We enjoyed the scenic two hour ride to Hong Kong, an administrative region of China.

Our first order of business in Hong Kong was meeting with Philip Shull of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office and Joel Haggard with the U.S. Meat Export Federation. We discussed differences between the U.S. and Asia, specifically the importance of food in the Chinese language and culture. We also learned about agricultural trading opportunities that include opening up new export markets for the U.S. Digging deeper, we discussed red meat exports and why American beef is currently banned in China. The issue began in 2003 with a BSE scare. Even though there is no food safety concern with U.S. beef, it is still banned due in China. The ban on U.S. beef is partially a political decision due to the fact that the U.S. will not import cooked poultry from China.

But, don’t think that the Chinese don’t like U.S. beef. It has been noted that huge amounts of U.S. beef have recently been exported to Vietnam. This beef eventually makes its way across the Chinese border and restaurants in China can be seen advertising the fact that they serve U.S. beef. Hopefully, in the future trade agreements can be made so that U.S. beef can be exported directly into to China.

After our meeting, we took a tram up the steep mountainside to the top of “The Peak” which overlooks all of Hong Kong. We got a quick view of the harbor before the fog settled in. After some pictures, shopping and dinner, we took a bus down a winding road to a ferry. The ferry took us across the harbor and we walked back to our hotel.

We concluded the evening with a debriefing about the I-CAL program. We discussed all of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Vietnamese and Chinese agriculture as well as America’s relationship with these countries. As I-CAL participants, we emphasized the importance of sharing our newly gained knowledge with others back at home. We can’t wait to share our new perspectives with you!

Kelly Moyer - Colorado State University
Brooke Jameson - North Dakota State University

Going Hog Wild over DDGS

2009-05-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

We began our day by visiting the Guangzhou Lizhi Agricultural Industry, a U.S. Grains Council partner swine farm. It was interesting to see and learn how the swine industry differs in China from the U.S. In the United States many producers specialize in a certain part of the growth process, whereas in China they are more geared toward farrow to finish. Chinese swine production is expanding due to government support programs even though they are currently losing money in the industry with supply issues and low prices. We found it very interesting to find out that even though China is the leading pork producer in the world, 50 percent of the pigs produced are by small, backyard farms (less than 50 head). The U.S. Grains Council has partnered with this farm in several key areas. Council programs have led to technological improvement, management development and increased knowledge about high quality feed ingredients. These improvements are helping Lizhi to reach their goal of 200,000 pigs produced per year.

In the afternoon we visited the Guangdong Haid Group Co., Ltd. This is a feed grains company with 20 subsidiary companies. They are currently one of the larger importers of U.S. DDGS and have attended the Council’s DDGS workshops, conferences and have participated in team visits to the United States. We met with them at their headquarters in Guangzhou and then traveled to one of their feed mills and research development sites. In the future the Haid Group, with the help of the Council, hopes to be the largest feed company in China.

Tomorrow we board a train in the morning to travel to Hong Kong where we will wrap up our journey to Asia.

Scott Henry - Iowa State University
Amber Phillips - University of Wyoming