Costa Rica is commonly known as a tourist country, but have you ever considered its importance to agriculture? Its beautiful green rain forest and water make it known for ecotourism and the country has been identified as one of the greenest countries in the world.

Feb. 21 through March 3I traveled abroad with Wright State Lake Campus agriculture students to Costa Rica. During this trip, we got the opportunity to see a unique side of agriculture and the Costa Ricans’ style of living. It was nice to escape the cold midst of Ohio and explore one of the most beautiful countries in Central America for spring break. From the spectacular Brahman cattle ranches and mountainside dairy farms to the waterfalls and deep delicious coffee and chocolate, it was eye opening for everyone.

Midway through the trip, we traveled to the Caribbean side and got to experience the tropics including fresh bananas, pineapple, and wildlife such as toucans, monkeys and iguanas. On the final day, we got to see a very large farm where they have palm oil, sugarcane, pineapple, and rice. This farm also rents land to Monsanto for research plots. It is interesting to see how they use resources from the states to farm. One of the men we met was employed right here in Ohio with Select Sires and he gave us a full presentation on dairy in Costa Rica while we sampled cheeses that were processed locally. Additionally we we toured two research farms, Center for Tropical Agronomy and Research Education (CATIE) and EARTH University which is where the Whole Foods Market processing facility is for banana production. I was very impressed with my first study abroad experience and would highly recommend anyone that ever gets the chance to take a trip like this to go. Seeing not only agriculture but the Costa Ricans’ lifestyle was very unique and it taught me a lot about different cultures and styles of living.

Mountain side Dairy Farm.
Mountain side dairy farm.
Waterfall at La Paz Waterfall gardens
Waterfall at La Paz Waterfall Gardens
EARTH University banana processing.
EARTH University banana processing.
Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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