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University of Costa Rica Exchange Students Visit Iowa State

The University of Costa Rica (UCR) and Iowa State University (ISU) Departments of Horticulture and Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology have a long history with this study abroad exchange program. During the even years UCR visits ISU in July/August, and in odd years over spring break, ISU visits UCR. The exchange spans over 25 years. Each university develops a program to visit many horticultural and agricultural businesses, family farms, cultural places of interest, and the best places to get some homemade food. This year, Erin Hodgson, Kevin Duerfeldt and Barb Clawson led the group throughout visits in Iowa and Nebraska.

UCR visited ISU from July 24, 2024-August 2, 2024. Fourteen students and two professors attended from Costa Rica.  Mauricio Serrano Porras and Robin Gómez were products of this program.  They received their undergraduate degrees from UCR and graduate degrees from ISU.  It was a pleasure to have them back as program coordinators.

May be an image of 10 people, people skeet shooting and clarinet

Football Training Facility

Hickory Park

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 the trip began with a tour of Syngenta in Slater, lunch and a tour of Reiman Gardens, Jack Trice Stadium and a welcome picnic and tour at the ISU Horticulture Research Station. 

Day 2 a first in this exchange was a trip to the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha Nebraska.  We received a behind the scenes tour of the zoo with staff plus a personal tour with ISU Hort Alumni, Jeff Sherbondy. The day ended with a trip to the famous Hickory Park where the students enjoyed a staple favorite of many ISU students. 

Berry Patch

Hay Rack Ride

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3 brought a trip to the Des Moines Farmers Market, Living History Farms and some time to shop at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. 

Day 4 take me out to the ball game was a pleasure to sing at a picnic at Principal Park watching the Cubs game.  A trip through the Des Moines Botanical Garden was a must see, and favorite for many of the students.  

Day 5 took us to Kelley for a tour of Kemin hearing about all of the specialty crops they are researching.  The students were fascinated with all of the different crops that they work with.  The group traveled to  Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillary in Swisher, Iowa.  We had a complete tour of the facility and enjoyed a lunch made at the Distillary.  A hayrack ride touring around Kroul Farm in Mr. Vernon was next on the agenda.  We ended the day with homemade woodfired pizzas with fresh produce from the farm.  Such hospitality.  One of the ISU student’s Grandma’s made homemade Kolaches for the Costa Rica group to enjoy. 

Hyvee Distribution Center

HyVee Distribution Center

Botanical Garden

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 took us all the way up to Cresco Iowa to get a tour of Plantpeddler, where Horticulture Alumni Mike and Rachel Gooder invited us to see the greenhouse business they have built over the years.  We started in the frist they purchased upon graduating from ISU and ended with their new greenhouse range. Lunch was sponsored by Plantpeddler and then we were off to Seed Savers in Decorah.  A quick drive through Palisades Park showed the UCR group that Iowa has bluffs too!   

Day 7 showed the students where some of their produce ends up when it’s shipped to Iowa. We toured the Hy Vee distribution center in Chariton.  They students were amazed as all the Costa Rica fruit they saw and how the bananas are ripened in the facility.  They also had the opportunity to see the ice machine at work, showing them how ice is made and bagged at the warehouse.  Jackets and sweatshirts were borrowed for this trip.  The group had a nice lunch at a park in Ankeny getting prepared to tour Des Moines Works, John Deere Plant in Ankeny.  Another highlight and shopping adventure purchasing some John Deere swag. 

Hayrack Ride

The Berry PatchVeenker Golf Course Tour

Grain Bin

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8 started with picking some blueberries and other fruits at The Berry Patch in Nevada.  Judy Henry baked her famous giant blueberry muffins for a coffee break while Dean Henry took the group around the farm on a hayrack ride. The student stopped to pick blueberries and experienced what a small produce farm looks like in Iowa.  Then they were off to the Kevin and Marilyn Westrum Farm in Rural Boone.  They showed the students what large farm equipment looks like and got a view from the stairs on a grain bin  A lovely tour of the Bio-century Farm was next and a stop at Veenker Golf Course for a tour and also tried their hand at golf and driving golf carts around the course. The day finished at Barb Clawson’s home with a hayrack ride around the gravel roads and some homemade desserts to enjoy.  

Day 9 included a meeting with some ISU professors and staff to talk about possible graduate student opportunities for the UCR students, a visit to the ISU Bookstore, and a walk around the ISU Campus.  A wonderful trip enjoyed by both UCR and ISU faculty and staff.  We would like to thank all our hosts that made the UCR group feel welcome and at home in Iowa.