Kansas State University Master of Agribusiness

Tuesday, June 16 - We left Lisbon for our final destination in Porto. Along the way, we stopped at Fatima to look around the grounds and the white Basilica commemorating
the appearance of the Virgin Mary.

Our Lady of Fátima refers to a series of Marian apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children: Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, in the town of Fátima. The children reported seeing the Virgin Mary monthly from May to October 1917, culminating in the famous "Miracle of the Sun" on October 13, where an estimated 70,000 witnesses saw the sun seemingly dance and zigzag in the sky.

After Fatima, we stopped in Coimbra, overlooking the Modego River for lunch and some shopping.

Before checking into our hotel in Porto, we toured the Cockburns Port Lodge to learn about the production of Port wines. Cockburn's is a historic Port wine lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, known for having the largest wooden Port cellar in the region and being the only one with an on-site team of coopers (barrel makers).

Monday, June 15 - We crossed the Vasco da Gama Bridge (Ponte Vasco da Gama), a 17.2-kilometer (10.7-mile!) cable-stayed and viaduct bridge that stretches across the Tagus River. Opened in 1998, it is the longest bridge in the European Union.

We stopped by a Lidl (Aldi) grocery store for a quick look around and to buy snacks for the day.

Next, we visited the Companhia das Lezirias, the largest agricultural, livestock, and forestry estate in Portugal. Founded in 1836 during the reign of Queen D. Maria II, it spans thousands of hectares between the Tagus and Sorraia rivers. It is a state-owned enterprise and includes one of the largest continuous cork oak forests (montado) in Portugal, alongside maritime pine and eucalyptus.

They harvest the cork trees every 9 years. Our guide explained that due to regulations of trunk size, cork trees may not be harvested for at least 25 years after being planted. The first and second harvestings are not good quality, so most trees are more than 40 years old before producing high-quality cork.

They also manage large-scale cultivation of rice, maize, olives, and vineyards, as well as breeding of cattle and high-quality Lusitano horses at their historic stud farm.

In the vineyard, they grow 26 varieties of grapes (13 red and 13 white). Their winery is known for producing labels like Tyto Alba, named after the resident barn owls they encourage to nest in the vines to scare of pests. Their Tyto Alba line is sold in a wooden box that can be used as a bird house after drinking the wine.

Saturday, June 13, found us driving northwest to Jabugo, an area known for production of Jamon Iberico de Jabugo (Iberian ham). We had a great lunch at Las Bellotas de Jabugo then kept on driving until we crossed the border into Portugal.

We spend the afternoon in Evora and visited the Roman Ruins and entrance into Evora Cathedral and the Bones Chapel. The Roman Temple of Evora dates back to the 1st-century. The Evora Cathedral is a massive 12th-century fortress-like cathedral situated right next the Roman Ruins. The Bones Chapel is located inside the Church of St. Francis (Igreja de São Francisco), this 16th-century chapel features walls and pillars lined with thousands of human skulls and bones.

Sunday, June 14, we made our way to Lisbon. Along the way, we enjoyed a visit of Agrotoro that was arranged by the Aberdeen Angus Portugal Society. Agrotoro, is a cattle ranch raising purebred Red Angus. One of their bulls was crowned European Grand Champion in 2025. They spent three years planning, researching and building before launching the ranch in 2018. In addition to the cattle, they also grow and harvest cork on the property.

After we arrived in Lisbon, we toured the Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Belém district. Commissioned by King Manuel I in 1501, it is a masterpiece of the Manueline architectural style, celebrating the Portuguese Age of Discovery and serving as the final resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama.

Friday, June 12, was a very busy day.

First, we went to Gospa Citrus. Gospa Citrus is a centenary farm, with bitter orange trees (Seville oranges) over 150 years old and
up to 7 metres high, still in production. It also has up to 80 citrus varieties, many of them very rare. We learned about the history behind citrus, with more than 2,600 varieties and millions of years old. Centuries ago, the farm was called "Del lugar del morisco" (The Moorish's place). It is located in the
heart of "Los Alcores" (Rolling Hills, in Arabic), specifically in Mairena del Alcor (Seville), a word also of Arabic origin that refers to its water sources, one of the areas with the oldest human presence in the peninsula, full of archaeological remains and history.

Second stop was Basilippo Olive Grove. Basilippo is a family-owned Spanish olive oil producer in Seville, Andalusia, known for its award-winning extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) made from Arbequina, Picual, and Manzanilla olives, using a blend of traditional and modern techniques like early harvesting and cold-pressing. We were treated to a tasting of two of their oils - one was infused with orange zest and served over chocolate ice cream. It was amazingly tasty!

We returned to Seville to tour the Real Alcazar (royal palace) and the Seville Cathedral. The Real Alcazar is the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use, known for its stunning blend of Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance, and Mudéjar architecture, with intricate tilework, ornate courtyards, and extensive gardens. Originally a Moorish fortress, it has been continuously expanded and modified by successive rulers, serving as a residence for Spanish monarchs and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was built on the site of a grand Almohad mosque and is famous for holding the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Finally, the group enjoyed dinner and a flamingo dancing show at Tablao Flamenco El Palacio Andaluz.

Whew! What a day!

The theme for Thursday (day 6) was horses and bulls. First, was A Campo Abierto, a fighting bull and horse ranch. We got a private visit to the estate of Alvaro Domecq, founder of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, where his fighting bulls and famous horses are bred. The group was welcomed by Isabelle, his granddaughter. We got to see their cows and their calves, bulls, mares, and foals, as well as watch some of the riders perform dressage. She shared they use oxen when moving the bulls and cows to help keep the herd calm. The oxen have bells around their necks 24/7 except during Lent when the bells are removed. On Easter, each ox receives a new bell for the year. We also learned about the history of the Domecq family, bull breeding, and horse training, and viewed the stables, tack room, and family bullfighting museum dedicated to the art of bullfighting on horseback (rejoneo).

Next stop was Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The institution is dedicated to preserving classical horsemanship, famous for its "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" show, which features a ballet of horses and riders performing complex dressage and traditional exercises.

After the show at the school we toured the Bodega Tio Pepe and tasted two of tbeir sherries. Then drove on to check into our hotel in Seville.

We left Granada on Wednesday, and made our way to the coast. Our first stop was to Complejo Agroalimentario de Olvera, an agricultural cooperative where a variety of activities take place including an olive oil mill, composting plant, cattle feedlot and storage facilities for cereals and animal feed. We did a tasting of three different olive oils to see if we could tell the difference.

Next week stopped for lunch and the opportunity to take in the bridge in Ronda. The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), is an 18th-century architectural marvel. Spanning a 120-meter-deep El Tajo gorge, it connects the town's historic Moorish old quarter with the newer, 18th-century market district. It was completed in 1793. The views were amazing.

From there we went on to Estepona on the Costa Del Sol for the night. A few of the group got to spend a few minutes at the beach and dip their toes in the Mediterranean.

Tuesday, our group went to Santiago Apostol Cooperative, better know as ‘Los Pastoreros’. Started in 1955, when a group of farmers decided to start working their own and rented lands together, using equipment, tools and livestock in common, for their own supply, as well as to distribute to those most in need. They produce a range of dairy products from their herd of over 380 cows, including 5000 litres of milk per day.

Once we were back in Granada, we did a quick bit of shopping and lunch near the Granada Cathedral before visiting Alhambra Palace.

Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex built by the Nasrid Dynasty, the last Muslim rulers in Spain, with construction beginning in 1238. Meaning "the red one" in Arabic, it's renowned for its stunning Islamic architecture, intricate tilework, and beautiful gardens, serving as a royal city with palaces, fortifications (Alcazaba), and the Generalife summer palace. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site and Spain's most visited monument, showcasing a unique blend of Moorish and Christian history.

Several members of the group were a little delayed arriving in Madrid, but been a busy couple of days. Upon arrival, we did a quick city tour of Madrid by bus.

The Pope also arrived in Madrid at the same time for the first Papal visit in more than 15 years, so crowds and traffic were a bit crazy.

On Sunday, we visited Finca (farm) Hualdo, a sheep farm producing traditional Manchego cheese, that also grows olives and produces their own olive oil, located in the historic setting of El Carpio de Tajo, in Toledo. We tasted some of their cheeses and olive oil after touring the farm.

After the farm, we made our way to Toledo. Known as the "City of Three Cultures," it's a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its rich history as a former Spanish capital, its blend of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish heritage, and its well-preserved medieval architecture, including a Gothic cathedral and ancient synagogues. It's located about 70 km south of Madrid and is renowned for its steelwork, particularly swords. Sights include the Toledo Cathedral and the Church of Santo Tome.

In the classroom or in the field - your classroom is wherever you are.

Our program builds flexibility into everything we do.
✔️Primarily online
✔️Short, focused on-campus sessions
✔️Learn while you work
✔️Immediate application in your career

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Agriculture-focused curriculum for the managers of tomorrow. It all starts here.

Learn more about our program: mab.k-state.edu/