With a vision of advancing the understanding and value of international trade, The Grains Foundation is dedicated to developing the next generation of agriculture professionals through the International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership (I-CAL) program. Each year, in cooperation with the National FFA Organization, I-CAL sends 12 U.S. college students overseas to experience different areas in the agricultural industry. Students not only understand how trade impacts the global economy, but also the importance of the United States building positive relationships with customers worldwide.

This May, I-CAL will take students around the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, where they will explore a number of topics including competition, environmental issues, trade agreements, and the corn and livestock industries. The students will have a full schedule, which includes meetings with trading companies, tours of swine and dairy farms, a plant and feed mill, and a flower production farm.

This year’s I-CAL team represents a variety of majors, ranging from agricultural communications to soil and crop science, and are from universities all across the United States.

The team is comprised of the following:

• Joseph Degreenia and Hope Wentzel from Virginia Tech
• Ethan Giebel and Tina Holst from the University of Wisconsin- Platteville
• Laura Gorecki from the University of Nebraska
• Mollie Lastovica from Texas A&M University
• Ana Schweer from South Dakota State University
• Samuel Tauchen from the University of Wisconsin- River Falls
• Kiah Twisselman from the University of California, Davis
• Clint Vance from Ohio State University
• Jenna Vculek from North Dakota State University
• Kari Weis from the University of Missouri

The 2013 I-CAL mission was made possible thanks to past USGC Chairman Owen Newlin, Growmark and CHS Foundation.

For more information contact Anne Zaczek, USGC manager of global development programs, at azaczek@grains.org or 202-789-0789.