Amanda Forstater, a graduate student in Agriculture and Extension Education and
International Agriculture and Development, spent her spring
break in the Caribbean visiting Trinidad & Tobago off the coast of
Venezuela. Amanda (@CityAggie), a 2015 student teacher, went on this trip with
the
Penn State INTAD 820 course. |
| Amanda Forstater in Trinidad and Tobago |
While in Trinidad
& Tobago, Amanda expanded her professional network, learned about Caribbean agriculture and experienced many once in a life time opportunities. With a trip
focused on agriculture, Amanda toured local farmers’ markets where she talked
with farmers and sellers and even bought local products. She toured farms and
met with farmers, visited the beaches and even a farm in the tropical rain
forests.
She expanded her
professional networking by meeting with faculty and graduate students from the
two main universities there - University of the West Indies (UWI) and the
University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT). While there she had the chance to
discuss her research at PSU, their research and the hypothetical grant
proposals her class is writing as a class project. She also met with one of their
regional extension offices, a representative of their Agricultural Society, and
a representative of the Coffee and Cacao Industry. She stated “I got to explore
the city and learn about their culture and how the history of the country has
shaped what it has become today. I also enjoyed all the wonderful scenery and
food that was available there.”
Amanda’s greatest
take away was realizing how important agriculture is on a daily basis and that
we are all globally connected in many ways. With a future in Agriculture
Education, Amanda will be able to use this experience to become a future
educator to her students. She will be able to help them to understand different
people and areas culturally and understand how we are all connected
agriculturally. She said “this experience was beneficial to me personally in so
many ways, not only in learning about the culture and the agriculture, but also
in getting to better know my professors and fellow graduate students and
preparing for my future.”
 |
| One of the papaya farms Amanda visited on her trip to Trinidad and Tobago over Spring Break! |
To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog!
Laura Metrick
Student Blogger
2015 Student Teacher
@Its_LauraBeth
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