It was an emotional day for the 12 International Collegiate Agriculture Leadership (I-CAL) students as they finished their “eye-opening� trip to Colombia and Panama. For their last day, the students enjoyed a “crammed� schedule as they toured an avocado cooperative, furniture production facility, a flower farm and shared a last meal together.

I-CAL is a program dedicated to fostering future generations of agriculture leaders by giving 12 students each year the opportunity to travel overseas and become exposed to global agriculture, international marketing and the importance of free and open trade. The program is supported by The Grains Foundation and the FFA Organization.

As participants Sarah Marten of Kansas State University and Dakota Hoben of Iowa State University reflected, the trip was all about perspective, “a theme for our whole program.� That perspective has given the students a greater understanding of international agriculture, the importance of trade and the value of cross-cultural dialogue.

Foundation Chairman Rick Fruth reminds Council members to support this and other Foundation programs at the Council’s 51st Annual Board of Delegates Meeting this July. “I hope you plan to support this valuable program by attending the Foundation’s wine tasting fundraiser this July in San Francisco,� he said. Click here for details.

To read more about the I-CAL students’ adventures and experiences in Panama and Colombia, visit the Council’s blog, www.thegrainboard.com.