2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Through international experience Extension educators learn desirable skills to meet clientele needs and professional expertise working with other cultures in local communities while addressing global issues. Although highly encouraged, some challenges do arise for agricultural and Extension educators seeking opportunities to participate in international assignments. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program provides technical assistance from U.S. volunteers to farmers, farmer groups, agribusinesses and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries with the goal of promoting sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production and marketing. The purpose of this proposal is to provide a practical overview of an F2F international extension assignment. The following questions will be addressed in this talk: (1) What are the requirements to be selected as an international F2F volunteer? (2) What are the perceptions of a young Extension agent professional during a first assignment overseas regarding expertise scope, preparation, challenges and expenses? and (3) What are the outcomes and benefits from the international experience? Recruitment: The F2F program recruits volunteers from all 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Volunteers usually have domestic careers, farms and agribusinesses or are retirees. Logistics: The time frame for the assignment was a two-week period, and targeted small, medium, and large producers of non-traditional horticultural crops in Guatemala. Field work and final lectures to clientele: F2F international volunteers visited agricultural operations that differed in size and geographical area and delivered two final lectures on topics of interest to local program participants. End of assignment reporting: A comprehensive report to in-country hosting organization was submitted before returning home. Extension agents who participated in international programs returned home with a global awareness to deliver a better service to diverse clientele in local communities.