Richard Beckort and Cora Carter stepped outside of their typical roles as Purdue Extension educators and took their expertise to Trinidad to share with people there who wanted to learn.
Beckort, Extension ag educator in Jackson County, Ind., taught the youngsters the basics of gardening.
“I came back with a different perspective,” he says. “It’s a different culture, and although the people I worked with weren’t poor, they know a little about farming and growing food. The culture there is based around industry, especially the oil industry.
“Having been there, I appreciate what we have here – we’re in pretty good shape overall. At the same time, it was fulfilling to help them try to improve their skills and knowledge base.”
Carter, Extension ag educator in Bartholomew County, Ind., put her experience in raising sheep to good use. Her challenge was to help people with no experience with sheep learn the basics so they could one day raise sheep successfully.
“I have a passion for working internationally,” says Carter. “It allows me to serve others in a different way. I learned a lot about organizations that work together to educate, train and help people all over the world.”
Purdue’s effort
Amanda Dickson is Purdue Extension’s international specialist and director of Purdue’s US Agency for International Development-funded John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program for Trinidad and Tobago. The grant money helps fund the program and pay expenses for volunteers like Beckort and Carter, Dickson says.
“Purdue partners in Trinidad and Tobago with the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine,” she explains. “That institution provides field management for the program.”
The Farmer-to-Farmer program is being implemented worldwide by eight primary non-governmental organizations.
Hands in the dirt
Beckort, often a home garden and crop judge, worked with youths associated with what are known as police clubs in Trinidad.
“Basically, I was teaching vegetable gardening to young people and their parents,” he explains. “There wasn’t a language barrier; most people speak english.
“Few people have home gardens. We learned the basics, including how to use soil test kits to determine nutrient levels.”
The emphasis was on community gardens, with children working together over a large area, he notes. Grown produce is available to the community.
Learn about sheep
Carter’s audience was mostly individuals who were once in prison and are now trying to develop useful skills. The goal was to teach the basics of raising crosshair sheep, both for wool and meat. Carter taught five virtual sessions in addition to the ones she taught live in Trinidad.
“Raising cattle is different—there’s no corn and soybeans like here for feed,” Carter explains. “The food is often a 20% protein pellet. We spent time choosing the animals to start with.”
There were no animals there when Carter first visited Trinidad. While there, she traveled to Tobago and visited the prime minister’s farm, which includes sheep. In fact, the sheep for the farm in Trinidad likely came from his farm.
Carter returned for a second stint this summer to provide more hands-on experience. “I have really enjoyed this opportunity,” she concludes.
