SCENERY … The Cliffs of Moher.
GALWAY… Kira Murillo, Alana Tracz, Scarlett Brehm, and Augusta Martin after helping shake the baskets at an oyster farm near Galway.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
For a small group of local FFA students, the classroom expanded far beyond the school walls this year. In a journey that blended agriculture, history, and culture, students embarked on a memorable overseas trip to Ireland, a first for the program, but one that will not be the last.
The trip, organized through EF Tours, offered a seamless way for students to experience another country. Each student was responsible for obtaining a passport and securing travel documents; beyond that, the process was straightforward.
Once the preparations were complete, the only thing left was to pack for the weather, exchange a bit of currency, and show up ready for an adventure.
“It was actually pretty seamless,” said FFA teacher Ryan Sell. “We just made sure everyone was prepared and where they needed to be when they needed to be there.”
Originally, seven students had enrolled for the trip, but four ultimately made the journey overseas. While it was a smaller group, the experience was no less impactful.
The trip was designed to focus on agriculture but became just as much about learning through cultural immersion. Students traveled the Irish countryside by charter bus, visiting farms, agribusinesses, and historic landmarks along the way.
They had the chance to tour cathedrals, explore museums, and walk through cities like Dublin, Waterford, and Galway. At one stop, they visited a vegetable farm and even helped plant some of the crops. Each experience offered a unique window into how agriculture operates on a global scale.
“The world outside of the U.S. is very different than what we might be used to,” Sell explained. “Farming operations there are on a much smaller scale than what we see daily here in northwest Ohio.
“And seeing some of the country’s history, dating back to the 1200s, really puts things into perspective compared to the United States’ relatively brief history.”
The trip also gave students the chance to observe urban environments that have existed for nearly a millennium, offering a striking contrast to more modern American cities.
These cultural experiences, woven together with agricultural education, left a lasting impression on those who attended.
Looking ahead, the program already has its sights set on another overseas adventure. In June 2027, the group plans to travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg for an eight-day trip.
Like the Ireland trip, it will combine agricultural exploration with cultural experiences, giving students a deeper understanding of how people around the world live, work, and farm.
This was the program’s first overseas trip, but certainly not its last. Northern Italy and Southern France are already being considered for a future destination.
With each new journey, students will have the chance to see beyond their everyday surroundings, gaining experiences that will shape their perspectives for years to come.