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Outcomes of international travel on agriculture: agricultural leadership programs create transformative learning and behavior change in farmers and ranchers

Author

Listed:
  • Claire N. Friedrichsen

    (USDA-Agricultural Research Service)

  • Jean Lonie

    (Tarleton University)

  • Melissa D. Haberstroh

    (IFYE Association of the USA, Inc.)

  • Terence A. Hejny

    (University of Nebraska- Lincoln)

Abstract

Significant life events tend to cause transformational change, but most narratives in agriculture focus on how negative life events such as death, bankruptcy, and health problems have created change. International experiences can be positive, significant life events. Transformational tourism has been shown to change travelers’ behavior. Therefore, we propose to examine the perceived outcomes of international experiences by agricultural leadership alums. Unstructured interviews with 36 agricultural leadership alums from IFYE, Nuffield, and LEAD Nebraska with distinctive international experiences were interviewed. The international experiences varied in purpose, time abroad, cultural immersion, structured travel, and independent study. This study answers the following questions: (1) How does international travel for producers lead to transformation? (2) How does international travel support behavior change? Data show the international experiences were impactful and transformative due to two processes that occurred during the international experience. First, agricultural leadership participants experienced disorienting events that forced them to reconsider and reject their current mental models of the agricultural system. Second, experiential learning through visiting farms, meeting producers, and spending time reflecting on what they were experiencing with their peers allowed the participants to rebuild their mental models and be inclusive of the broader agricultural system. During these two processes, the participants’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control of new agricultural practices, sustainable agriculture, and possible options within the agricultural system expanded. Short-term international experiences were an important gateway to further international experiences. Longer-term international experiences that involved independent study, cultural immersion, and global network development supported the adoption of sustainable agriculture through perceived attitudes, social norms, and behavioral control. To support transformational change in the agricultural system, we need as many tools as possible to support practitioners. International experiences provide a tool to support transformational change.

Suggested Citation

  • Claire N. Friedrichsen & Jean Lonie & Melissa D. Haberstroh & Terence A. Hejny, 2025. "Outcomes of international travel on agriculture: agricultural leadership programs create transformative learning and behavior change in farmers and ranchers," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 1139-1153, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:42:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-024-10665-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-024-10665-1
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    1. Breslow, Sara Jo & Sojka, Brit & Barnea, Raz & Basurto, Xavier & Carothers, Courtney & Charnley, Susan & Coulthard, Sarah & Dolšak, Nives & Donatuto, Jamie & García-Quijano, Carlos & Hicks, Christina , 2016. "Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 250-259.
    2. Lorenz, Melanie P. & Ramsey, Jase R. & Richey, Robert Glenn, 2018. "Expatriates’ international opportunity recognition and innovativeness: The role of metacognitive and cognitive cultural intelligence," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 222-236.
    3. Valeria Piñeiro & Joaquín Arias & Jochen Dürr & Pablo Elverdin & Ana María Ibáñez & Alison Kinengyere & Cristian Morales Opazo & Nkechi Owoo & Jessica R. Page & Steven D. Prager & Maximo Torero, 2020. "A scoping review on incentives for adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and their outcomes," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(10), pages 809-820, October.
    4. Nadine Lehrer, 2024. "An immersive, comparative approach to experiential learning in food studies education," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(1), pages 61-73, March.
    5. David J. Pannell & Roger Claassen, 2020. "The Roles of Adoption and Behavior Change in Agricultural Policy," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 31-41, March.
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