Penn State's Domestic Study Away Program: Taking Success on the Go with #TeachAgDSA18

The 2015 Domestic Study Away took place in  Mississippi,
where students visited a catfish farm (above), toured cotton
production, explored international trade at the Port of Gulf,
and more.

Since 2013, students from Penn State have traveled all across the country, racking up thousands of miles to explore the transformative nature of school-based agricultural education as it relates to communities, schools, and most importantly the lives of students.

This year we're excited to have the opportunity to send students to the New England area to explore the agriculture industry and school-based agricultural education with #TeachAgDSA18. 

The Domestic Study Away program gives students a chance to broaden perspectives and immerse themselves in the vast diversity of agriculture in our own nation by hearing it directly from the source - a unique opportunity in itself. Typically each year includes industry tours, community engagement, meaningful discussion with peers from local universities, and a professional development focus in the area of school-based agricultural education. 

To really capture the essence of the Domestic Study Away program, we invite you to browse through the past DSA experiences of current Penn State students and alumni: 

2017 Domestic Study Away, #PSUAgEd2WI

Professional Development Focus: 

Exploring gender within the agriculture industry, secondary Agricultural Education classrooms, and the Agricultural Education profession.

Student Chair: 

Rose Cowan (@cowan_rosalind)

#PSUAgEd2018 Student Teacher

Digital Reflection:

http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2017/05/5th-annual-domestic-study-away.html

2016 Domestic Study Away, PSUAgEd2TN

Professional Development Focus: 

Using #AgEdu for STEM instruction in Urban and Rural Settings.

Student Chair: 

Nathan Repetz (@N8_Repetz)

Current Benton Area Agriscience Teacher

Digital Reflection:

http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2016/05/its-wrap-domestic-study-away-2016.html

2015 Domestic Study Away, #PSUAgEd2Miss

Professional Development Focus: 

Instructing financial literacy through work-based learning in rural Appalachian areas through school-based agricultural education.

Student Chair: 

Janae Herr (@kjmcmichael)

Current Lampeter-Strausberg Agriscience Teacher

Digital Reflection:

http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2015/05/mississippi-mindsets-reflecting-back-on.html

2014 Domestic Study Away, #TeachAgDSA2014

Professional Development Focus: 

Integrating Service Learning Pedagogies through Farm to School Programming.

Student Chair: 

Jillian Gordon (@jillianedu)

Current Clarke Central (GA) Agriscience Teacher

Digital Reflection:

http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2014/06/colorado-adventures-reflecting-back-on.html

2013 Domestic Study Away, #PSUAgEd2AZ

(Pilot Year)

Professional Development Focus:

Multicultural competency particularly including those serving the Navajo Reservation

Digital Reflection:

http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-domestic-study-abroad-teach-ag.html.

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.

Hunter Kauffman, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Instagram: kauffman_hunter

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu