DICKINSON, ND - The Dickinson State University (DSU) Agriculture Club participated in study abroad this past May to Tokyo, Japan, and surrounding areas, where they had the chance to broaden their understanding of agriculture on a global scale. The primary goal of the trip was to compare agricultural practices in western North Dakota and eastern Montana with those in Japan, offering students a unique perspective on international systems.
Victoria Moreno, an active student in DSU's Agriculture Club, participated in the trip to Japan. She went into the trip with an array of topics to cover such as animal systems, automated farming, economic principles, and comparing Japanese culture to American culture. Moreno was able to learn more on these subjects, and how the practices are done in Japan compared to the United States. Moreno described the practices such as cattle branding as "grossly different". A striking difference between the agriculture communities was that cattle ranchers in Japan do not brand their livestock, which is common practice in Western culture.
This educational opportunity expanded far beyond the goal of gaining agricultural knowledge. The students observed cultural practices firsthand. Moreno described the "small yet noticeable" difference between the two countries. The students learned new cultural norms, such as no tipping for services, especially at restaurants. They observed that simple daily tasks are different in Japan, such as walking and driving, because they occur on the left side of the road instead of the right. Another concept the students experienced was that Japanese culture prioritized modesty when selecting their clothing. "We learned so much about opening our minds to practices around the world and how they affect products and services from the U.S." stated Moreno.
Moreno and her fellow Agriculture Club members felt their education benefited from this opportunity. To wrap up the experience, students who participated in this opportunity shared their findings with the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) in Fargo. The main topics of this presentation focused on the opportunity to meet with the USDA Japan Branch, the United States Meat Export Federation, and the United States Soybean Export Council. The experience of traveling to Japan for the DSU Agriculture Club would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the NDSC.
Members of the DSU Agriculture Club are thankful to everyone who contributed to making this trip a reality and are eager for more opportunities to explore agriculture on a global scale.
For more information on Dickinson State's agriculture programs, please visit dickinsonstate.edu/ag.
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