Let the Flying begin, South Korea here I come

Hello, with a little over a week till I leave for South Korea my mind is driving me nuts. I must say that I have been all over the United States but going out of the country was something that I never thought that I would get an opportunity to do. Let alone be on a plane. Since I started to attend Penn State University the chance for me to travel abroad came about twice in one year. My choices were to go to Germany or to South Korea. I chose South Korea because it relates most to my major as an Ag Educator.

When the opportunity for me to travel to South Korea came about I could not believe it. I have been thinking, since I started attending Penn State, how could I use my education to better the world. Going to South Korea is just one way for me to do that. I found a source from the Library of Congress Country Studies on how South Korea's agriculture has changed over many of years. Here is the link: http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/52.htm

After reading this I was most impressed with how much the land and the number of agricultural workers numbers have changed. South Korea has gone through many rough spots from a major land reform and the growth of urban areas. It shows that the percent of South Korea's contribution in agriculture has been dropping a great deal.

Through-out this trip I not only hope but know that I will be gain the knowledge of how others around the world do agricultural along with how different/alike the FFA and FFK's are.

Please keep following our blog and see what great knowledge and fun we all will achieve from this great opportunity

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

An nyoung ha se yo (Hello),

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose."
- Dr. Suess, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

My name is Katie Harshman and I am a recent graduate of Penn State in Agricultural and Extension Education. I was given "Oh The Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Suess as a graduation present on my last day of student teaching, and I've probably read it at least 15 times in the past month! This quote could not be any more descriptive of my adventure this year, I am steering myself across the ocean to Seoul, South Korea using the brains in my head, and the feet in my shoes. I could not be more pumped for this adventure.

It seems that each day at Penn State has taken me more and more out of my comfort zone. A study abroad trip was not on my radar after graduation, let alone a study abroad trip to South Korea. I absolutely cannot wait to learn more about student perspectives of the FFK and agriculture education in South Korea. The idea of getting to know the student perspectives is so interesting to me because I can see how my own personal perspective has changed drastically in the past 4 months and I would like to see how they can keep changing it.

One of the most exciting things about going to South Korea is that we will be there for my BIRTHDAY! At 22, I probably shouldn't be that excited but this will be one of the most memorable birthdays I ever have, so I plan on making it the best. It's certainly not something I want to forget.

Thank you for following our adventure. Thank you for giving each one of us the support to take this leap.


Katie Harshman

Over the River and through the Woods to South Korea We Go!

When I think about leaving for South Korea I think of the Johnny Cash song "I've been everywhere Man". Until this spring semester and planning on going on this trip I really thought I'd been almost everywhere, Maine to Florida, Jersey to Indiana, and all through Canada. I knew I hadn't made it to California yet but sooner or later I'd get there. The more I think about it the more I come to the conclusion I've been nowhere man, no where. Verses going half way across the world to South Korea, Florida and Indiana are trips down the street. I have learned to live on a global scale, and to pay attention to global issues but never really thought about how localized I've lived. This trip is changing all that!

I have been looking forward to this trip, with Majoring in Ag. Education  I really like to see how different people work and live in Agriculture, and to this point different has been fish farming in Ohio and crop farming in Indiana. Now different agriculture will be seeing what Koreans consider agriculture and how they produce it. I wasn't actually really really excited about the trip till the last class when we got the itinerary, actually knowing where we're going and what we're doing really got me excited. being able to Google locations of places and see pictures and information made the trip more real than ever before. I'm most excited to just be able to see Seoul, everyone has said its a huge awesome city and I want to see it for myself. 

No matter what happens on this trip we will have fun. I'm traveling with a bunch of my friends to learn about Agriculture, this is nothing new for us we've been learning about Agriculture since we were little kids just flying around the world instead of walking to the barn to do it.

Here is hoping, praying, and wishing for a safe, educational, enjoyable trip over the river and through the woods to South Korea. . . really across the ocean and over the woods.

Agriculture Outside the United States

Hello!!!

I would first like to thank you for taking time to read and follow our trip across the globe!! I am hoping that I can share the excitement that I am feeling before I am even on the plane.

I am a Junior at Penn State dual majoring in Agricultural Extension and Education along with Environmental Resource Management. I have strong interest in agronomic crops and forages. I grew up on a dairy farm in South Central Pennsylvania. Throughout my childhood and even today,  agriculture has always been a cornerstone in my life. My dream is to farm the family farm and also to work in conservation or for the Department of Agriculture.

Because I grew up on the family dairy farm, I have been unable to travel and I have never been on a family vacation. This trip to South Korea will be the ultimate highlight of my life. I am extremely excited to not only visit another country, but expand my limited knowledge of global agriculture. I hope that my experience will be life altering in that I will be influenced by how agriculture is perceived in another country.

I am all packed and ready to start this adventure!!!!

Keep in touch!