FFA members return from educational, cultural experience in South Africa
Seventy-four FFA members recently visited South Africa for a 12-day educational and cultural experience.
Members participated in the 2018 International Leadership Seminar for State Officers as an annual, international opportunity through the National FFA Organization. The seminar allows FFA members to experience a foreign culture, learn about international agriculture and become more knowledgeable on the global marketplace.
Past and present state FFA officers representing 24 states traveled throughout South Africa while surveying the agricultural landscape. FFA officers met with government and U.S. Embassy officials to learn about U.S. and South African trade relations; toured crop and livestock operations; met with business and industry leaders and explored a private game reserve that is home to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo. The group also met with fruit exporters, abalone producers and more.
“We hope that through a structured experience like ILSSO, students will not only see the importance of agriculture on an international level but understand it is essential to feeding the world,” says Eric Nelson, program manager with the National FFA Organization. “This seminar exposes students to culture and food production practices beyond what they are accustomed to in the United States,” Nelson says.
Prior to departing the United States, the students completed eight weeks of online coursework related to cross-cultural adaptability. The program was made possible by corporate sponsors Bunge North America and John Deere.
Those students from the High Plains Journal readership area participating were Ethan Angel of Glenwood, Arkansas; Cassandra Bond of Earlham, Iowa; Caleb Finnegan of Guthrie Center, Iowa; Carli Grau of Ankeny, Iowa; Peyton Schmitt of Birmingham, Iowa; Antonia Wallin of New Market, Iowa; Rachel Zumbach of Coggon, Iowa; Skyler Denio of Hoxie, Kansas; John Kennedy of Soldier, Kansas; Eli Ohlde of Clyde, Kansas; Marie Reveles of Hays, Kansas; Riley Sleichter of Abilene, Kansas; Wendy Bauman of Raymond, Minnesota; Katherine Benson of Staples, Minnesota; Kylee Kohls of Litchfield, Minnesota; Emily Pliscott of Kenyon, Minnesota; Madeline Weninger of Buffalo, Minnesota; Sheridan Johnson of Conrad, Montana; Hailey Coufal of Howells, Nebraska; Jake Judge of Atkinson, Nebraska; Kelli Mashino of Spencer, Nebraska; Jessica Rudolph of Gothenburg, Nebraska; Isabelle Stewart of Columbus, Nebraska; Brock Vetick of Lyons, Nebraska; Lydia Vinton of Whitman, Nebraska; Rebekah McCarty of Reserve, New Mexico; Jaclynn Knutson of Centerville, South Dakota; and Andrew Streff of Salem, South Dakota.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 653,359 student members who belong to one of 8,568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 344,239 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.
