OALP members preparing for trip to Brazil

Oklahoma

It has been 20 years since members of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program have trekked to Brazil. Members of Class XII will soon be heading to South America once again to take part in the program's international trip slated Feb. 4 to 16.

OALP is an intensive two-year program at Oklahoma State University that is geared toward the development of leaders in the agriculture and agribusiness world. Part of this development comes in the form of helping members gain a broader understanding about agriculture and agribusiness in a global economy. In an effort to broaden the educational aspect of OALP's Class XII, it is important for participants to be involved in global agriculture.

Joe Williams, OALP director, said this trip to Brazil is important because Brazil is one of America's major competitors in the global market.

"It is important for emerging agricultural leaders to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of Brazilian agriculture," he said. "In addition, the international trip will help the OALP members appreciate and learn about the competition they are facing now and in the future. The group also will learn about Brazilian industry and culture, as well as broaden their knowledge of world agriculture and global trade."

Brazil has been a leading exporter of sugar, citrus and coffee for many years. However, it is quickly emerging as one of the world's powerhouse producers of soybeans, the world's most important source of vegetable protein. Currently Brazil is one of the top eight producers of 28 different commodities.

This international adventure will take OALP members to a number of different places in Brazil, including Porto Alegre where the group will tour the tractor assembly departments, and Santa Cru do Sul where they will visit the Astor Tornquist Farm and learn about soybeans, corn silage and irrigation.

The group also will learn about the Brazilian meat industry when they visit the country's first exporter of frozen meat. The visit will entail all aspects of exportation, including the entry of the cattle, slaughter, boning, cuts, delivery and packaging. In addition, the group also will visit several different ranches, including a Hereford and Braford cattle ranch, a horse ranch and a Roney Marsch sheep ranch.

While in Rondonopolis, class members will tour the Mato Grosso Foundation experimental farm, along with a stop at a soybean plantation where they will learn about storage and seed processing. Mato Grosso is the world's largest soybean producing area.

Jake Nelson, Class XII member from Stillwater, believes the most beneficial part of this international trip will be the opportunity to look at the global picture.

"The practices of other countries, especially Brazil, are directly impacting U.S. agriculture today," Nelson said. "That impact might be easier to understand if I have the chance to go to their turf and observe. I want to see what a 'typical' day is for those we are visiting."

"The international trip for this class will be such an educational experience for everyone involved," Williams said. "Learning and experiencing agriculture in different ways are just a couple of the goals we have for each OALP class, and this trip to Brazil will be quite an experience."

For more information about OALP, contact Williams at 405-744-5132. Applications currently are being accepted for Class XIII. Application forms are available on the Web at www.oklahomaagleadership.org. Applications and references are due by May 17.

Date:1/26/06