2014 Student Teacher Emily Urban Travels to World Food Prize

Agriculture IS Sexy!

For most of us here in the United States, if we want to eat something, we: open up the refrigerator or the pantry, pick up the phone for delivery, stop at the local super market, or meet up with friends at a restaurant. The availability of food does not cross our minds and this luxury is a given in most of our lives. However, food insecurity is a major and rapidly growing issue around the world, as population, environmental, social and other pressures limit the availability for millions of people to obtain a dependable, nourishing, and safe food supply.

Penn State World Food Prize attendees from left to right: Veronica Pasi, Emily Urban, Sarah Eissler, Anh Tuyet Tran, and Abraham DeHart (missing) 

I, and four other Penn State students, had the opportunity this past week to spend three days in Des Moines, Iowa, attending the World Food Prize. After being granted a full scholarship to attend this conference, I was prepared to be inspired by the work being done around the world to improve food security issues. The World Food Prize is held annually to recognize top biotechnology achievements in the field and to conduct dialogue pertaining to the many different issues related to this area. With top industry correspondents and international guests, world leaders in the area of international agriculture gathered together in the remembrance of Norman Borlaug’s achievements in biotechnology and the impact that the Green Revolution had on the world, as it brought millions out of hunger, especially in Latin America. Guests and speakers at this year’s World Food Prize included Tony Blair, Howard Buffet, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the President of Iceland, and corporate CEO’s, including Brett Begemann from Monsanto.

Agriculture IS sexy

This was a major theme after Mpule Kwelagobe, CEO of MPULE Institute for Endogenous Development, stated this boldly in the opening session. Young people are losing interest in agriculture she argued, the subject that feeds the world! To me, this is how the importance of agricultural education comes into view. We as agricultural educators, whether in formal school or informal settings, are given the notable task of promoting agriculture and expanding agricultural literacy not only here in the US but also around the world.

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?!

The State Capitol Building of Iowa.

The inspiration and knowledge of opportunities that I gained from this experience will have a lasting impact on my professional development. As I am currently a senior in Agricultural Education and Extension with a minor in International Agriculture, I am looking into entering graduate school with plans of making a positive impact on global food insecurity issues, while also utilizing my agricultural education background. It was truly amazing how top professionals from around the world were simply sitting next to us during speaker sessions, and we all jumped on the opportunity to talk to as many people as possible. Many of us gained career ideas, job offers, and graduate school opportunities.

To check out more about this year’s World Food Prize, checkout #worldfoodprize and #agricultureissexy.

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!

Emily Urban
@UrbanEmilyR
Student Guest Blogger
2014 Student Teacher 
Oley Valley High School

Undergraduate, Emily Urban, travels to Brazil for research

ESALQ students picking up avocados after a bad storm

“Oh…and take care. We have scorpions here in Brazil.” My eyes opened up as I continued to carefully dig through the random assortment of scrap metal and plastic pipes that we were clearing at the organic farm. I have to say I was appreciative of my Brazilian friend’s advice! By the way, offering a free day of labor on someone’s farm sure helps to make friends quickly. Little did they know how much I was dying to experience as much Brazilian culture as possible. 

What happens when an ‘ag-crazy’ undergrad Penn Stater gets a research grant to conduct her independent research in Brazil? To be honest, that was me and I didn’t have a clue what to expect. I was excited to interview Brazilian agriculture students at ESALQ, the university I was located at, for my project concerning Brazilian undergraduate perceptions of student-student and student-staff relationships in agriculture classes in the US and Brazil, but other than that, my goal was to learn as much as I could about Brazilian agriculture. 

This video shows ESALQ campus and history

Emily and Sarah, a fellow Penn Stater, standing in a city part in Rio.

One of Brazil’s wonderful cultural characteristics is its generous and sociable people, so it was not difficult to arrange experiences at an organic small-scale crop farm, receive tours of the crop and livestock testing facilities of the top agriculture university in South America, ESALQ, walk amongst banana and coffee plants, chew on raw sugarcane, collect avocadoes, and so much more. The only way one can make the most out of an experience like this is an adventurous spirit and always say “yes.” You outgrow the “Say no to strangers” parental advice and move onto a “yes” mentality, obviously with good judgment. Stepping out of your security bubble is when the opportunities and the true experiences begin to flow. The two weeks in Piracicaba were also filled with plenty of dancing, traditional music, Brazilian BBQs, trips to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and other cultural must-sees…all with the “yes” mentality!  As I am currently preparing to student teach next semester, I want to stretch students out of their confidence zones when I can. As a future educator, I would like to help students grow a “yes” mentality to new ideas and situations that they develop self-reliance and confidence that they can take with them throughout their career trajectory. 

A 16 hour solo bus journey to the capital city, Brasilia, was totally survivable! I was greeted with open arms by a wonderful host family for my final week in Brazil. The mother is the director of Brazil’s Science Without Boarders program, which is the Brazilian government’s ambitious initiative to send their students abroad.  I also had the ability to visit Embrapa, Brazil’s main agriculture research center, and spent a large portion of the time touring the crop genetics and biofuel labs and facilities. With their daughter, I visited a showjumping riding and training center with a fellow equine enthusiast.

And my point of sharing a glimpse of this experience is…?

                    1.)     I am a college student on a budget. The truth is with a little creativity and ambition, there is funding out there, even undergraduates to grasp opportunities like mine.

                    2.)    There were ups and downs in the trips. Even frightening times, but also amazing times. An independent international experience that is practically completely self-guided can be challenging, but so rewarding.

                    3.)    This trip has opened my eyes to be REALLY appreciative some of the things we take for granted in the US, including our education system and agriculture policies.

                    4.)    Finally, I want to help connect undergraduates to grants and experiences like this, because it was an unbelievable way to make international contacts, be inspired about new career ideas, and have an overall incredible experience…so contact me if you would like to hear more. Tchau!

HUB Lawn equivalent of ESALQ.

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!

Emily Urban - Guest Blogger
2014 Student Teacher 
Oley Valley High School
@UrbanEmilyR

Penn State -- The MOST Students Receiving Scholarships from NAAE in the Nation

Fifteen students from across the United Stated have been selected for the Upper Division Agricultural Education Scholarship through the National Association by Agricultural Educators (NAAE) due to their academic performance, leadership and service activities. The Pennsylvania State University is home to THREE of those individuals. Congratulations to Caleb Wright, Emily Urban and Mindy Stoops! Each of them will be receiving $750 to help offset the expenses that they will face during their student teaching experience this coming spring.

L-R Caleb Wright, Mindy Stoops, and Emily Urban

Caleb Wright plans on using the money for living expenses, as he needs to focus all his time on student teaching rather than trying to work a second job. Emily wants to use her scholarship money to help with tuition during the spring semester.  Mindy would like to use her amount for living expenses and transportation. All three of them understand the importance of belonging to a professional organization in their field and are excited to be members of NAAE and also PAAE (Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators). They know that the professional organizations will help them to continue growing as a teacher professional after their college career. 

As stated in the NAAE News Release:

The funding for the Upper Division Scholarship comes from Gothic Arch Greenhouses, Delmar Cengage Learning, and donations by NAAE members. Gothic Arch Greenhouses specializes in greenhouses and supplies for a variety of uses including agricultural education programs. Delmar Cengage Learning delivers highly customized agricultural education learning solutions for all levels of educational institutions.

NAAE is the professional organization in the United States for agricultural educators. It provides its' nearly 8,000 members with professional networking and development opportunities, professional liability coverage, and extensive awards and recognition programs. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community though visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” They are headquartered in Lexington, Ky.

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!

Jeanne Case

Student Blogger

2014 Dover HS Student Teacher

Twitter: JRose_Case

National Championship!!! Penn State Alpha Tau Alpha wins National Quiz Bowl Competition

Indianapolis – Five dedicated Agricultural and Extension Education (AEE) majors saw their hard work pay off on October 25 in Indianapolis, Indiana as they were crowned National Champions in a National Quiz Bowl Event. Students in any agriculturally related student organization in universities across the nation could compete in the event hosted by the National Alpha Tau Alpha (ATA) organization.   Alpha Tau Alpha is a National Professional Honorary Agricultural Education Organization which plays a vital role in preparing individuals who wish to pursue careers in Agricultural and Extension Education. Alpha Tau Alpha chapters exist in more than thirty one states across the United States and pride their organizations for outstanding and diligent work in professional development, fundraising, community service and fellowship. Penn State's Eta chapter was founded in 1931.

From Left to Right: Ashley Tressler,
Jeanne Case, Caleb Wright,
Mackenzie McCollum, Emily Urban

Each year, the National ATA Organization holds competitive events during the ATA Conclave, which is held in conjunction with the National FFA Convention. Penn State's team consisted of five students, Mackenzie McCollum, senior and 2013 Student Teacher; Caleb Wright, junior and 2014 Student Teacher; Ashley Tressler, senior and 2013 Student Teacher;  Jeanne Case, junior and 2014 Student Teacher; and Emily Urban junior and 2014 Student Teacher; as the alternate. 

The team endured four rounds of competition in their quest for a national championship.. During the competition, questions were asked to test the students knowledge in three areas; Technical Agriculture, Professional Education, and Agricultural Education. Each round of play consisted of four teams with four members each. The top two teams at the end of the round moved to the next round. Each round consisted of 18 toss up questions, six from each area listed above. Each toss up question was worth two points. Each toss up question was followed by a bonus question, where a team could receive up to four points for the correct answer.

The team anxiously waiting for the next question.

While the competition was tough, Penn State’s well rounded team prevailed, which is not surprising considering the amount of practice they put in to prepare themselves for the competition. Teammate Caleb Wright claims, “Competing in quiz bowl was an awesome experience. The team was able to represent not only the University, but the College of Agricultural Sciences and the AESE Department as well. Bringing home the championship was icing on the cake! Preparing as a team was a great way to forge new friendships and build on the ones already formed. Agricultural Education at Penn State and throughout the country is a close knit group, so any chance to learn more about your future colleagues is always a blast.”

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes 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 @TeachAgPSU, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PSUTeachAg.