I Belize in the Future of Agriculture: Post Travel Blog (Erin)

Agriculture wears a lot of different hats. It looks different across the world. It is based in culture, tradition, and the importance of providing for, and serving others. Traveling to Belize was a reminder of the impact agriculture has. A reminder of it's overall importance.

In the United States, agriculture is oftentimes an afterthought. For the most part, we are fortunate enough to be food secure, and for many people, the thought of where their food comes from stops at the grocery store. Most people are generations removed from the farm, therefore creating a disconnect between farmer and consumer.

Agriculture looks a lot different in Belize! 

In Belize, we saw the importance of agriculture from the start of our trip. We saw how agriculture spread its roots in Mayan culture, in Mennonite culture, and beyond. One of the things that stood out to me, was the Mayan people and their dedication to their land. People historically would walk up to two hours JUST to get to their farms, and everyday would continue to farm.

I think in travel it's easy to look at just the differences between here or there. But differences don't bring people together. As the trip continued, I realized that even though agriculture looked different, that we all had similar concerns that impacted our industry. In both the United States and Belize, the average age of farmers continues to get older. We talked with local farmers about the uncertainty of who will take over their farm, and what will be left behind. We also discussed how the general outlook towards agriculture prevents people from wanting to involve themselves in it. Oftentimes, agriculture is seen as unappealing, something that is a last resort. It makes things difficult in bridging the age gap between the younger, and older generations.

As a future teacher, I hope to always remember to focus less on the differences, and embrace the similarities between experiences, cultures, and people. I think if we're always thinking with an "us vs. them" mentality, we can't build a connection with students. I think that's why traveling is so important. In class leading up to our departure, Belize to me was in my mind as somewhere far away. The places we talked about weren't concrete or real. It was easy to talk about agriculture, or education in Belize from afar, because we weren't made aware of the intricacies that exist from up close. Essentially, we had very limited indigenous knowledge about Belize, and the people who lived there.

Traveling makes the indigenous knowledge known, and although we'll never be experts in it, we'll at least be made aware of it. That was the entire point of #TeachAgBelize. I mean, the official class name is "Indigenous Knowledge in Agricultural Education"so I guess that makes sense. It's funny how things really come full circle when you take the time to really process your experience.

I am thankful for this experience, and for the opportunities that I have as a Penn State student. This trip would not have been possible without Dr. Miller-Foster, Dr. Foster, Dr. Ewing, Dr. McCubbins, and CELA Belize (especially Lauren and Jorge who were with us from start to finish), and I'm thankful for all that they did to make this trip as amazing as it was. I'm also grateful for my classmates, Kurt, Olivia, Britton, Kryslynne, Lex, Sarah, and Gillian. I had so much fun traveling with you guys, and getting to know you more. You all have so many different areas of knowledge and passions that taught me so much over the course of the week.

If you are interested in seeing our final presentation about what we learned, you can come to Ferguson 214 on Monday, March 26th at 4pm!

Erin Langdale is a sophomore in the Agricultural and Extension Education major at Penn State. 

Day 7: Living a Legacy (Erin)

"Legacy; What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see." 

-Lin Manuel Miranda

In the way that I am obsessed with the musical Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton was obsessed with his legacy, and what he will leave behind. Day seven was filled with the concept of leaving behind a legacy for others. A moment in time seeing the work put forth towards the future.

In the morning we went to Tumul K'in Center of Learning. Tumul K'in translates to "A New Day" and it's foundation was built on teaching students Mayan values. The Mayan community saw a generational gap between the young, and old. They decided that they didn't want to leave behind their Mayan heritage and their legacy. In turn, the learning center was built. Students came to the center for high school, and along with regular classes, students learned the local Mayan languages and traditions. It was an amazing experience to see students so young living out the legacy their ancestors left before them.

Later in the day, we had a discussion with Mayan farmers. The question of "What do you see for the future of your farm?" was posed. The farmers explained that farming had been a part of their culture for generations. They had hoped that their children might some day take over. I saw a connection to farming in the United States. There's an increasing disconnect between the farmer and the consumer. People everyday are leaving the farm to explore other opportunities. It's a reminder that all of us, Alexander Hamilton, Mayan farmers, my classmates, myself, and everyone out there, has no idea what their legacy will be. We just need to keep working towards leaving behind something positive.

Erin Langdale is a sophomore studying Agricultural and Extension Education at The Pennsylvania State University.

Day 3: A Breath of Fresh Air (Erin)

Belize is truly a place that can take your breath away.

In my case, it literally did just that as we walked up steep terrain during out first farm visit of the day. With each step I found it increasingly more difficult to catch my breath, and mixed with the panic that caused, and the intense heat, I definitely wasn't feeling confident in my ability to reach the top. I looked up at the path ahead of me, fearful of being unable to make it. One step, two steps, breathe; over and over again. But in the end, I simply couldn't do it.

Sometimes, it's frustrating to know your limits. It's frustrating to want to extend yourself farther than you're able to go. It's frustrating to realize that sometimes you can't do something, regardless of how badly you want to. When I decided to turn around, I felt (and still feel) that frustration. I knew that the top of that pathway, was a beautiful view, and all I wanted to do was see it. But in a way,  that frustration distracted me from seeing the beauty around me in the present moment. 

Our bracelets from CELA Belize. 

Yesterday, our first full day in the country, we received bracelets from CELA Belize, who has played a major role in the planning of this trip. Each seed represents a different sentiment, but overall, the bracelet is there to serve as a reminder to stay anchored in the present moment. Throughout the day, I kept thinking about the bracelet and it's significance. Yes, I was frustrated, but I was also standing in the middle of a field filled with plants I had never tasted, or seen before. I was watching monarch butterflies fly around coconut trees, and I saw iguanas resting on branches. I was taking it in, all in real time, but not fully appreciating it. 

We only have a finite amount of time here in Belize, and as the days pass in what feels like seconds, I'm learning to appreciate it all. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I'm coming to terms with the fact that not everything will be perfect, and realizing that it's imperfect moments where we learn and grow the most.

Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. 

One of the most beautiful parts of our day today, stemmed from an imperfect moment. We had left our first farm tour, and traveled to a second farm for lunch. When we got there, lunch was just starting to be made. As a group, we passed the time by sitting by a nearby river. The view was like something out of a children's story book. It was wide open, and beautiful. A breeze that took the heat off our minds, and let us really appreciate the moment. It really was like a breath of fresh air. A refresher from the heat of the morning before. 

All in all, Belize is beautiful. The people here have been nothing but kind, and welcoming, and the raw beauty is fascinating.  I'm excited to experience more of the perfectly, imperfect. I'm honestly thankful for the ups and downs throughout this experience, because I firmly believe that I'm learning more than I would without them. Here's to more adventures! 





Erin Langdale is a Sophomore studying Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State.