CALS Study Abroad Office- Iowa State University

Thanks everyone for following along the first couple days of the Farms, Food, and Fuji study abroad in Japan!

Special thanks to Dr. Laura Greiner and Dr. Justin Brown for leading and organizing the trip.

We spent 14 days abroad learning about Japanese agriculture. We traveled all over the country, from east coast to west coast and everywhere in between. Some highlights include visiting Global Pig, Shibata Packers, a wagyu beef farm, a tea farm, strawberry farm, wasabi farm, rice farm, mushroom farm, and vegetable farm. We also got to be tourists and visit places like shibata castle, the Kyoto shrine, Shibuya, imperial palace, a sumo show, and plenty of markets and shops. Of course, we had great food as well, which was a cherry on top.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to study abroad and encourage everyone to experience one! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Josh Wiley

Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students on the Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership program were hosted by USUN in Rome. Students shared their project work with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and heard from US diplomats how the US Department of State works to promote US foreign policy and support US agricultural innovation and global food security.

It was great having students at USUN Rome - they’re working with to develop policy briefs and get real life experience with food security and agricultural challenges. We are excited to see them do great things! ✨🌏

Meet Emily King, a senior in Agronomy, Agricultural Business, and International Agriculture!

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀: Agriculture Business, Trade, and Production in Argentina, Agriculture Business, Trade, and Production in Panama, and Agriculture Business, Trade, and Production in Australia

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺(𝘀)? I wanted to learn more about agriculture in other parts of the world. I also wanted to have various cultural experiences because I had never been out of the Midwest before these trips.

𝗜𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱/𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵? These experiences made me realize a lot culturally and academically. I learned a lot more about various cultures and how important they are. I also learned a lot more about agriculture and different practices that happen all around the world.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱?
My biggest piece of advice would be if you’re even considering going on a study abroad, do it. When I first started college, I never thought I would do it, but after my trips, I have had experiences and memories that I will always be very grateful for.

Read more of Emily's highlight through the link in our bio!

Meet the last of our Fall 2025 scholarship winners and hear about the most rewarding part of their trips to India, Panama, and New Zealand! 🇮🇴🇵🇦🇳🇿

𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻: "Traveling to India was a truly eye-opening, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I really valued the opportunity to connect directly with producers, meet new people, and immerse myself in a completely unique culture. It also gave me the chance to learn about agricultural practices and see crops that I would not normally be exposed to in the United States"

𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience in Panama was getting to experience a different culture while learning about agriculture and livestock production in a new environment. I especially enjoyed seeing how farming practices and daily life compared to what I am used to at home. The trip helped me grow more confident, open-minded, and appreciative of different ways of living and working."

𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗸𝗲: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience was learning how pasture management and livestock production are adapted to the unique challenges of an island environment. I gained a deeper understanding of how agricultural systems must be designed to use land efficiently and sustainably when resources are limited and self-sufficiency is essential."

Next Stop: Study Abroad! Get ready for Instagram takeovers from CALS students across the world this summer!🌏

Follow along on our stories to see their travels!📱

Meet a few more of our Fall 2025 scholarship winners and hear about the most rewarding part of their trips to India and New Zealand! 🇮🇴🇳🇿

𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience was connecting with other agriculture students at Kerala Agricultural University. I was able to explain the Agricultural Communications program to many students and describe to them my future career goals."

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience in New Zealand was learning through immersive experiences while being fully surrounded by a new culture. Better understanding global perspectives within my area of study was a huge plus!"

𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵: "I was overwhelmed by the incredible innovation exhibited by the farmers of India. This on-ground learning renewed my passion for agricultural systems abroad, and inspired me to think outside the box of what agriculture of the future could be."

Meet Zachary Utley! He is a senior majoring in Agronomy and Seed Science!

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀: Soils, Crops and Natural Resources of Costa Rica, Agricultural Systems of New Zealand, Exploring the Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity of the US Virgin Islands

𝗜𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱/𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵? It grew my knowledge and opened my eyes to other cultures, and how people in other areas of the world live, speak, interact with one another, and eat. It allowed me to connect my school classes with the practical hands on application of it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱? Do It! Just go, the experience is well worth the money.

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱? 100%, I would not have been able to go if I did not have my scholarships, and I would probably not have done any study abroad programs; instead, I did 3.

Read Zachary's full highlight through the link in our bio! ✈🌎

Meet a few more of our Fall 2025 scholarship winners and hear about the most rewarding part of their trips to New Zealand, Ghana, Panama, and India! 🇳🇿🇬🇭🇮🇴🇵🇦

𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad was being able to grow and make connections with other students while experiencing and exploring another country and their culture. It is fascinating to see how farmers and businesses operate in other parts of the world."

𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: "This experience transformed my understanding of agriculture as I moved beyond familiar row crops to master the complexities of tropical production and the economic realities of farming in a developing nation. My cultural outlook shifted through rare opportunities to engage with Ghanaian leadership, allowing me to bridge the gap between high-level policy and traditional community structures. Finally, I found a deeper purpose in mentoring 4-H youth, empowering them to see themselves as the future of a global industry that I now view through a much wider lens."

𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience was getting to interact with students at Kerala Agricultural University. Through our conversations and interactions, I was able to learn what studying agriculture looks like on the other side of the world. Although we have different cultures, the passion for agriculture is apparent worldwide."

𝗘𝘃𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗸: "The most rewarding part of our trip to Panama was visiting an indigenous village where we saw cacao being grown. It was a drastically different sight than the city. Children were bathing in the river while the women were doing laundry there as well. The whole family was involved in the production of cacao, and the experience was incredibly impactful to witness. The community was very tight-knit, and there was a strong and beautiful sense of pride in their work and way of life. Seeing how everyone contributed and supported one another made the visit especially meaningful."

The application deadline for the Tropical Agriculture and Culture in Ghana program has been EXTENDED!

This travel course explores tropical farming systems across three of Ghana’s ecological zones, covering livestock and crop production, agroforestry, wildlife ecology, and Ghanaian culture. Students will engage in class lectures, service projects, and visits to farms, research institutes, and universities.

Applications are due Saturday, May 30, 2026. A 3-credit pre-departure course, AGRON 4960, will be offered during the Fall 2026 semester. Travel will take place January 3rd to 18th, 2027.

Apply via this link: https://studyabroad.cals.iastate.edu/programs/tropical-agriculture-and-culture-ghana-winter-break

Meet a few more of our Fall 2025 scholarship winners and hear about the most rewarding part of their trips to New Zealand, Panama, Spain, and India! 🇳🇿🇵🇦🇮🇴🇪🇸

𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱: "The most rewarding parts of studying abroad have been navigating a foreign country on my own, exploring the region, and making international friends!"

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad experience was the friendships I made throughout the trip. Being able to connect with other students who share similar passions for agriculture made the experience even more meaningful. Those friendships, along with the memories we made, are something I will carry with me long after the trip."

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆: "The most rewarding part of my study abroad was getting to learn about a new culture and tropical agriculture. This trip provided me with so many new experiences that I could not have gained from learning in a classroom. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity full of learning and new friendships."

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲: "Living in Granada, Spain, has been a wonderful language immersion to quickly improve my Spanish language fluency, through living with a host family and taking the majority of my classes in Spanish. I am also working to assist in English classes in a local school and have gotten to build a variety of meaningful relationships with the students and teachers. But overall, it’s been the most rewarding to push myself outside of my comfort zone and watch myself grow into a better version of myself."