Richard Beckort and Cora Carter stepped outside their typical roles as Purdue Extension ag educators and took their expertise to Trinidad to share with people there wanting to learn.

Beckort, Extension ag educator in Jackson County, Ind., taught the basics of gardening to youth.

“I came back with a different perspective,” he says. “It’s a different culture, and although the people I worked with were not poor, they know little about agriculture and raising food. The culture there is based around industry, especially the petroleum industry.

“After being there, I appreciate what we have here — we are 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 raising hair sheep to use. Her challenge was helping people with no experience with sheep learn the basics so they could someday raise sheep successfully.

“I have a passion for working internationally,” Carter says. “It allows me to serve others in a different way. I learned a lot about the organizations that work together to educate, train and help people all over the world.”

Purdue effort

Amanda Dickson is Purdue’s international Extension specialist and Purdue’s director of the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program for Trinidad and Tobago. Grant money helps fund the program and pay expenses for volunteers like Beckort and Carter, Dickson says.

“Purdue collaborates in Trinidad and Tobago with the University of West Indies in St. Augustine,” she explains. “That institution provides on-the-ground management for the program.”

The Farmer-to-Farmer Program is being implemented around the world by eight primary non-government organizations.

Hands in the dirt

Beckort, often a garden and crops judge at home, worked with youth associated with what are known as police clubs in Trinidad.

“Basically, I was teaching vegetable gardening to youth and their parents,” he explains. “There was not a language barrier; most people speak English.

“Few people have home gardens. We taught basics, including how to use soil test kits to determine nutrient levels.”

The emphasis was on community gardens, with kids working together in one large area, he notes. Produce grown is available to the community.

Learning about sheep

Carter’s audience was largely individuals who were once in prison and are now trying to develop useful skills. The goal was teaching basics of raising crossbred hair sheep, both for wool and meat. Carter taught five virtual sessions besides those she taught live in Trinidad.

“Raising livestock is different — there isn’t corn and soybeans like here for feed,” Carter explains. “The feed is often a 20% protein pellet. We spent time going over selecting animals to get started.”

There were no animals there when Carter visited Trinidad for the first time. While there, she traveled to Tobago and visited the prime minister’s farm, which includes sheep. In fact, sheep for the farm in Trinidad will likely come from his farm.

Carter returned for a second stint this summer to provide more hands-on experience. “I’ve really enjoyed this opportunity,” she concludes.