UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences once again are taking advantage of study abroad opportunities. In the spring semester, students visited countries around the world, including Spain, Ireland, Germany and Kenya.

“Global engagement is essential for strengthening interpersonal skills and broadening global perspective,” said Ketja Lingenfelter, assistant director for student global engagement in the college. “Students are excited to study abroad again, and the college and Ag Sciences Global appreciate the faculty leaders. Their efforts to provide rigorous courses with international immersion allows students to discover facets of potential careers on a global level.”

Matthew Kaplan, professor of intergenerational programs and aging, led “Agricultural and Extension Education 499: Global Perspectives for Intergenerational Living and Learning: Spain.” In the spring semester and Maymester, students were introduced to intergenerational studies, meeting with intergenerational specialists who are doing innovative work in Spain.

Students engaged in site visits to programs designed to enrich lives, contribute to community quality of life, promote cultural continuity and strengthen families. During their time abroad, they visited cultural centers and attended events in the Extremadura and Andalusia autonomous communities.

Kenna Embree, of Irwin, said, “It’s hard to believe we spent only 10 days there considering the number of things I learned and experienced. In Spain, they make it a point to serve their elders in a constructive, intergenerational way that positively impacted their community development goals.”

Embree completed her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with a minor in Spanish in 2022. She noted that this trip was a great stepping stone between college and starting her career as a life-enrichment coordinator in an independent-living setting.

“Animal Science 499: Ireland’s Equine Industry” was led by Danielle Smarsh, assistant professor of equine science, and Andrea Kocher, instructor in equine science. Students explored the Emerald Isle to learn more about the increasingly global equine industry. It is important for today’s animal science students to understand the U.S. market and how it intersects with the worldwide economy, Smarsh explained.

During their trip, students visited several horse farms and facilities to understand how horses are managed in Ireland. They also studied international equine travel, trade, events, research and biosecurity. Through these experiences and lectures, students developed an understanding of the Irish horse market.

Brooke Stoneham, of Chambersburg, who majored in animal science with a minor in equine science, graduated in May. “I love traveling, so studying abroad was something I wanted to do in college,” she said. “I chose this course specifically because it focused on the equine industry. I gained a new perspective on the industry and how I could adapt Irish practices to the U.S market. I also learned the importance of making connections with everyone you meet.”

Janelle Larson, associate professor of agricultural economics, led “Community, Environment, and Development 499: Issues in Economic, Community, and Agricultural Development in Kenya.” Students traveled to Nyeri, Kenya, to work on projects at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre. The center is an innovative program for former street-dwelling youth.

Students were “trainee consultants” to address needs and learn about effective community partnerships. The class had dual goals of providing a valuable service for the center and giving students real-world learning opportunities. The course focused on horticultural production and soil health. Students led workshops and one-on-one advising for young adults planning to start a business.

Emily Betler, of Pittsburgh, is a senior plant sciences major with a minor in international agriculture. “Everyone was welcoming and wanted to teach and learn from us,” she said. “I was able to put my classroom knowledge to work. The staff and the students became close quickly, which made saying goodbye at the end of the trip extremely difficult. This course truly changed me for the better.”

“Food Science/International Agriculture 460: International Food Production” was co-taught by Helene Hopfer, associate professor of food science, and Ryan Elias, professor of food science. The class explored food production and brewing science in Germany. Students spent much of their time in Bavaria, Munich and Nuremberg.

Some highlights of the program included visiting Bavaria’s oldest bakery, the Hofpfisterei, and conducting research at TU München in its technical unit research brewery. Students also learned about the 1,000-year history of the Bavarian State Brewery of Weihenstephan, which is the oldest brewery in the world. In addition, they learned how milk is processed into premium cheese and had a tour of the historic Rock-Cut Cellars.

Emmaline Yang recently graduated with a degree in food science. She lives in California and works as a food scientist at Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds.

“There’s truly nothing like experiential learning while abroad, and I hope everyone has the opportunity to explore a new part of the world and see the world in a new light,” Yang said. “As a food scientist, I aim to discover trends from around the world and combine them into new food products. Focusing only on the U.S. market would be a disservice to me as a lifelong learner and to consumers.”

All these courses support the college’s Sustainable and Accessible Study Abroad initiative, which encourages students to incorporate sustainable practices into their study abroad experiences and makes studying abroad accessible to all students.

Further information about study abroad opportunities through the College of Agricultural Sciences is available by contacting Lingenfelter at ketja@psu.edu or by visiting the college's study abroad webpage.