Five Russellville FFA members and FFA adviser Ellen Amos attended a 13-day international agriculture trip to Ireland, Wales, England and France.
The trip, which was made June 13-26, focused on experiencing agriculture in these various countries. The FFA chapter traveled with five other FFA chapters from across Missouri to tour farms, agribusiness and tourist destinations in the four countries.
In Ireland, students witnessed a sheepdog herding demonstration on a sheep farm. This farm now receives much of its income from agritourism where more than 50,000 people come a year to see the herding demonstrations. While in Ireland, the students saw a production to store operation in a Buffalo Mozzarella Farm, which uses rotational grazing with its buffalo herd and a traditional dairy milking facility. The buffalo milk is used to make mozzarella at a nearby production facility owned by the farmer, and the mozzarella is packaged and distributed around Ireland. The students also went to the Causey Farm, which is a showcase of a diversified livestock farm used for agritourism for individuals in the Dublin metro area. On this farm, they saw the unique bog farm area where individuals used to harvest bog for heat energy.
While in England, students attended the Royal Cheshire Show, which is similar to county and state fairs in the United States. There, they saw cattle, pig and horse shows as well as specialty entertainment shows. They looked at the various agriculture machinery that was on display and talked to agriculture personnel about issues. While in London, students toured a company that helps sustainable agriculture and environmental startup companies in the area. The building housed many various ways to produce fruits and vegetables hydroponically in an urban population. The members also attended Borough Market, which is one of the oldest markets in London. The market sells fish, meat, vegetables, cheese and fruit.
In France, members toured a farm 30 minutes outside of Paris that produces beef, eggs and cereal grain. The fourth-generation farmer saw an opportunity to create a niche market being so close to an urban center, and he created his own butchering area for the beef so that he could sell and market it himself. He also created a mill to create flour and feed with his and his neighbors' cereal grains. He was innovative with the production of a food vending machine system outside of his farm. With various refrigerated stalls, he can sell his meat, egg, flour, feed and oil products at a convenience to the consumer.
Russellville FFA member Hanna Mueller said of the trip: "The most important thing that I learned was the diversity of American agriculture to European agriculture. They have so many differences yet so many things in common. Being able to see demonstrations, do hands-on activities, and see working farms was what I really took away from the trip. I learned so much more about agriculture that I didn't even know existed." She also commented, "You can get caught up in how you do things on your own farm at home and never really think about how much difference there is in other places. It was very eye-opening and overall a great learning experience for me to see."