Many Thanks to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Financial Services/FBL Financial Group, Inc., and the Nebraska Soybean Board
Nebraska’s State FFA Officer Team spent 10 days in China as part of the National FFA Organization’s International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO) in January. The whirlwind experience took the officers from Beijing to Shanghai with several historical and agricultural site visits in between.
The trip was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Financial Services/FBL Financial Group Inc. and the Nebraska Soybean Board.
A few of the many highlights of the trip included visits to China’s most prestigious agricultural universities, as well as interactive tours of dairy and cattle farming operations, greenhouses, student experimental fields and the China Dairy Museum.
The officers also learned about Chinese history and culture by visiting the Great Wall of China, taking a trip across one of China’s oldest settled regions, a stop at Tiananmen Square and traditional dining and entertainment experiences. The officers also got to see the National Stadium (the “Bird’s Nest” during the Olympics) and the American Embassy where they were briefed by an attaché from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Each officer brought back a unique perspective of Chinese agriculture and their impressions, including a greater appreciation for American agricultural practices and technology.
Some of their comments are below:
“Some of the things we discussed on our trip included U.S. trade with China, their air and groundwater pollution issues, and the challenges Chinese students are facing. I have been around production agriculture all of my life and after seeing how primitive Chinese agriculture is, it gave me a new appreciation for our operation.” – Jill Petersen, Loup County FFA Chapter
"This trip definitely changed my way of thinking in terms of American agriculture. It was an eye-opening experience to see how China has been and is continuing to develop. We are very fortunate to have all the technologies that we do in American agriculture. I look forward to sharing this information with others.” – Lauren Perry, Kimball FFA Chapter
“I gained a tremendous amount of agricultural knowledge and look forward to sharing this information with Nebraska FFA members. We were given a lot of information about the many differences between the United States and China. This trip really opened my eyes and gave me a better appreciation for everything we have in America.” – Ricky Sparks, Franklin FFA Chapter
“We covered topics ranging from the Chinese dairy industry to government standards. I enjoyed hearing about their beef industry, support of organic farming, interest in biofuels, wholesale markets, general belief system, and so much more. I am much better informed to participate in discussions about global agriculture, specifically, that of China.” – McKenzie Steger, Creek Valley FFA Chapter
“It was interesting to learn about the United States’ dependence on China and China’s dependence on the United States. Our country needs to maintain good relations with China in order to ensure we can continue to export our many agricultural products, such as soybeans.” – Blake Becker, Alliance FFA Chapter
