By: Dr. Jean Lonie
In June, 24 students and faculty members spent 20+ days exploring agricultural production and policy across England and Scotland. The group was able to blend academic and cultural learning with days on farms and in the field as well as time to experience London, Edinburgh, and even the historic Sherwood Forest! The group met with the USDA team at the U.S. Embassy in London, traveled to Diddly Squat Farm (made famous by the show Clarkson’s Farm), saw Stonehenge, and had warm welcomes from crop farmers and vegetable cooperatives. A highlight of the trip was a day at Harper Adams University, where the students attended an agricultural policy lecture with one of their professors, toured the school’s farm, and learned about their Hands-Free Farm, which uses technology and precision agriculture to manage an entire operation – without a human involved in the fieldwork. The study abroad wrapped up with a great week in Edinburgh, including a much-anticipated day at the Royal Highland Agricultural Show. This event dates back to 1822 and has more than 2,000 livestock competitors and tens of thousands of visits to experience farming, food, and rural life in Scotland and beyond.
Riley Gonzales shares their account of the experience “The 2024 UK Study Abroad for Agriculture was my first ever Study Abroad, not to mention my first ever time out of the country. While over there, I got to learn about agriculture on a global scale as well as a growing concept called Regenerative Agriculture. I also got to meet with another university, Harper Adams University, in England and tour their programs and fully operational farm. My favorite part of the trip, however, were the cultural experiences I had in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. The history of those two cities is immense, and those two cities alone make the trip worth it.”
