French Agriculture students visit Muscatine Community College
Twenty-three agriculture students from France, touring Illinois and Iowa crop and livestock farms, as well as farm equipment manufacturers, visited Muscatine Community College on April 17 to better understand the community college educational system in the United States.
Because of the extensive international education opportunities at MCC, the college was asked to be included on the tour of places to visit in Iowa. The students toured Illinois and Iowa crop, swine and dairy farms, the John Deere Tractor manufacturing plant in Waterloo and the Amana farms. They also spent time touring Chicago before returning to France.
“It was our pleasure to have this group of students visit our Agriculture program at MCC" said Marshall McDonald, Department Coordinator of the Agribusiness and Technology programs at MCC. "We explained how our classes and employment experiences are structured around the seasonal requirements of harvesting and planting in the midwest.When we told them they could be paid by the employer for the work they do, they were very excited.
"It is our hope that we can develop a mutually beneficial relationship with these students and the private agriculture school they attend in France. We want to offer our agriculture program at MCC as a way to continue their education and return to France to prosper from their experiences here.”