Volunteer Stories
David Bernheisel
Angola
Since 1991, the 81-year-old Lewes man tried to spread his business knowledge and ensure democracy thrives…
Michael Brugger
Armenia
Read moreJames Anderson
Bangladesh
UW-Extension educator James Anderson recently completed a volunteer assignment in Bangladesh funded…
Bauer Duke
Bangladesh
Bauer Duke, Extension specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture,…
Dr. Bruce Williams
Bangladesh
Dr. Usha Palaniswamy
Bangladesh
Dr. Usha Palaniswamy, an adjunct professor at Strayer University, has volunteered seven times with Winrock,…
Cliff Wener
Bangladesh
Cliff Wener is a food service, food processing and hospitality expert from Winnetka, Illinois. Over…
Toton Léopold
Benin
Read moreAlan Robinson
Cambodia
Critical to evaluating potential for developing community-based ecotourism is understanding people’s…
Bryan Dodson
Colombia
Read moreKath Lestina
Colombia
In March 2018, Kathleen (Kath) Lestina, a business owner and designer from the United States, traveled…
Michael Morrow
Colombia
In Colombia, the market conditions for the majority of food produced by small and medium farmers are…
Jon Thiele
Congo
Jon Thiele is an agribusiness and microfinance expert who has focused on international development consulting…
Wendy Sealey
Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most challenging places served by the USAID-supported…
Bill Nichols
Dominican Republic
Bill Nichols is a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) veteran. A graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School,…
Melanie Forstrom
Dominican Republic
Read moreRebecca Roebber
Ecuador
Chuya Yaku is a Kichwa community in Ecuador located in the heart of the Amazon. Their cacao growing…
Stephen Peterson
Egypt
While in Egypt, Stephen offered guidance to several apiaries on the importance of optimum spacing of…
Erin Mies
Egypt
I am a Human Resources business partner with the Purina Sales and Customer Operations teams based out…
Dr. Heidi Kassenborg
Egypt
In December of 2014, Heidi, a veterinarian and former Director of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division…
Nimer Al-Shadfan
Egypt
In December 2015, Nimer Al-Shadfan, a Land O’Lakes, Inc. employee, went on a volunteer assignment…
Sherry - Land O'Lakes International Development
Egypt
It was incredibly fulfilling to help people improve their operation and jobs – especially in such…
Eric Bowman
El Salvador
Objective: To provide El Salvadorian cooperatives, particularly Board Members and management, governance…
Erika Brown
El Salvador
Read moreAnais Troadec
Ethiopia
In 2013, Anais traveled to Ethiopia and completed her third trip to Guinea. In Ethiopia, she led workshops…
David Pearce
Ethiopia
During his volunteer assignment in Ethiopia, David trained members of two dairy cooperatives, Abdi Gudina…
Julie Longland
Ethiopia
Julie Longland has served as a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer in Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Nepal…
Carmen Byce
Ethiopia
The Melka Abune Aregawi Nunnery runs various community and welfare services including managing 40 acres…
Phil Smith
Ghana
In April, I arrived home from Ghana after completing an ACDI/VOCA volunteer assignment with the USAID-funded…
Dr. David Addae
Ghana
In Twapease, Ghana, the Dekaworwor Rice Growers’ Association has seen a dramatic increase in rice…
John Wallbrown
Ghana
On March 15th, 2013 John Wallbrown returned from Ghana after three weeks as a volunteer for the U.S.…
Dr. Bill Zimmerman
Ghana
Jirapa District in the Upper West Region of Ghana is dominated by smallholder farmers who grow crops…
Makeba Clay
Ghana
It’s so hard to believe that I have only been working with the farmers of the Techiman Maize Traders…
Dr. Dan McGrath
Ghana
In northern Ghana, where nearly half the population lives in poverty amid the vast savanna, agriculture…
Felicia Bell
Ghana
Read moreSteve Morgan
Georgia
Entrepreneur Gocha Gagashvili started his milk collecting and cheese production business in 2008 in…
Carl Bannon
Georgia
Read moreMarco Malatrasi
Georgia
Read moreKevin Mis Solval
Guatemala
Read moreKristen Gartland
Guatemala
Kristen Gartland traveled to Guatemala as an F2F volunteer for 2 weeks in March 2018 to assist CEPROCAL…
Dr. Steve Johnson
Guatemala
The distance between Maine and Sibinal, Guatemala is over 3,600 miles. Sibinal is a mountainous municipality…
Melissa Delzio
Guatemala
With his silver-streaked beard and fashion scarf, seated in Sukhasana (a yoga meditation pose), Marco…
Blake Scott
Guatemala
At just over 6200ft elevation, winded, but yet proud of my accomplishment, I began setting up my camera…
Sam Marshall
Guinea
My assignment was a five-day training for extension agents on the safe use of pesticides and integrated…
Trevor Hylton
Haiti
As a result of Trevor’s assignment, the students and farmers are better equipped to understand the…
Howard Fenton
Haiti
Read moreDr. Mehboob Sheikh
India
In India’s Gujarat State, farmers have suffered great losses in their harvest and income due to high…
Jim Riddle
Jamaica
Locals in Kingston, Jamaica are flocking to the Ujima Natural Farmer’s Market to purchase local, natural…
Angela Caporelli
Kenya
While in Kenya, Angela evaluated an established aquaculture field station and reported on the efficacy…
LaRon Beemer
Kenya
Brownsburg resident LaRon Beemer, a competitive intelligence manager for the Agricultural Division of…
Hellen Kuthea Kitonga and Adrienne Pierce
Kenya
Read moreRuss Zick
Kosovo
Through summer 2017, EWB-USA’s Engineering Service Corps (ESC) will be working alongside Kosovo’s…
Ross Penhallegon
Kyrgyzstan
Fruit production employs more than 35,000 people in the Kyrgyz Republic’s Issyk-Kul Oblast, where…
David Ringuette
Kyrgyzstan
In the past three years, I have completed 17 volunteer assignments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.…
David Roberts
Kyrgyzstan
May 2017—In 2007, Emilbek Shamyrkanov started his own cattle-rearing business and dairy farm in northeast…
Rich Harrill
Kyrgyzstan
Read moreDr. Mushtaq Memon
Lebanon
Objective: To help organizations understand prevailing endemic livestock diseases and improve livestock…
Karen Barnett
Lebanon
Green Hand is a Lebanese nonprofit fully run by unpaid, but highly motivated team members. For years,…
Gary Geisler
Lebanon
In 2014, Gary Geisler, a calf and heifer specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition, a wholly owned subsidiary…
John Felsk
Lebanon
Since 2014, Lebanon has been facing a food safety crisis with foodbourne illnesses on the rise. In order…
Heidi Lammers, Jerry Heaps and Anthony Vojta
Lebanon
Lebanon doesn't have a robust food quality regulation, but there appears to be some movement in the…
Dr. Ashraf Hassan
Lebanon
Associate Professor of Dairy Science at South Dakota State University, Dr. Ashraf Hassan, recently completed…
Dr. Patricia Pratt
Lebanon
Food safety is one of the biggest challenges faced by the agriculture and trade industries in Lebanon,…
Dr. Renae Moran
Lebanon
The apple industry in Lebanon faces major challenges. Most apples were previously exported through Syria…
Dan Halsey
Lebanon
Dan Halsey, a Permaculture Research Institute designer and lecturer from Minnesota, never dreamed his…
Christopher Mallek
Lebanon
In March of 2016 , the Farmer-to-Farmer Program in the Middle East and North Africa (F2F MENA) implemented…
Garielle Bohlman
Lebanon
Lebanon is one of the most forested countries in the Middle East and is known for its iconic cedar forests.…
Amanda Newton
Lebanon
Read moreJulia Moore
Liberia
For 20 years, Julia Moore’s father, Bill Eyman, traveled the world as an ACDI/VOCA volunteer for USAID’s…
Matthew Amato
Madagascar
As a volunteer for VEGA’s Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Special Program Support Project in Madagascar, Matthew…
John Casazza
Malawi
There is a high demand for organic coffee in the world, and a small cooperative in Malawi called Ntchisi…
Wayne Burleson
Malawi
Wayne Burleson is a passionate volunteer, having completed over fourteen assignments with the Farmer-to-Farmer…
Matt Cleaver
Malawi
The cultivation of oyster mushrooms, which are not native to Malawi, was first introduced in the early…
Benedicto Marinas
Mali
In the village of Solla-Bougouda, as in many other villages in the West Sikasso region, most families…
Sarah Master
Mali
The Sikasso region has higher rainfall than most other areas of Mali and some of the best agricultural…
Dr. Bruce Bowman
Mongolia
The rolling landscape is brown and brittle for as far as I can see. A ridgetop observation point allows…
Shayan Ghajar
Mongolia
Mongolia's rangelands are an unfenced expanse of undulating hills covered in grasses, livestock, and…
Mark Teets
Mongolia
My name is Mark Teets and I was born to a farming family in West Virginia. I was raised on a dairy farm…
Jan Buresh
Morocco
Volunteers have been a critical part of IESC’s mission since 1964. The Frank Pace Award, named for…
Catherine Rasmussen
Morocco
The Rural Leadership Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Morocco included virtual and in-person trainings. The…
Mark Apel
Morocco
Read moreFarmers Teach the Next Generation in Mozambique
Mozambique
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Farmer-to-Farmer program is pairing highly-skilled…
Mike Sturdivant
Myanmar
Mike Sturdivant is a soil conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a department…
Dorene Petersen
Nepal
Last fall, I traveled from my home in Portland, Oregon to the southern lowland area of Nepal known as…
Robert Bond
Nepal
Bob Bond, a consultant from Weaverville, NC, traveled to Nepal for 2 1/2 weeks in April to share his…
Dipak Mainali
Nepal
Read moreArchie Devore
Nepal
Read moreDr. Henry Van Cotter
Nepal
Read moreJolene Warnke Roszel
Nigeria
Jolene was nominated by the Nigeria Farmer to Farmer team because she demonstrated a commitment to the…
Dr. Onesimus Otieno
Nigeria
Winrock International’s Nigeria Farmer-to-Farmer staff have nominated Dr. Onesimus Otieno as the December…
Ian Robinson
Panama
Panama - Located in eastern Panama along the country’s border with Colombia, the Darien region is…
George Victor Otoo
Philippines
Read moreEric Doesburg
Philippines
Read moreJillann Richardson
Philippines
Read moreSonja Marie Hansen
Philippines
Read moreAnnette Acosta
Philippines
Read moreAmy Conard
Philippines
Read moreDrew Hauffe
Philippines
Read moreMatthew Buonopane
Philippines
Read moreMaria Witz
Philippines
Read moreJay Ahuja
Philippines
Read moreTony Timmons
Philippines
Read moreAzam Husain
Philippines
Read moreRadhika Batra
Philippines
Read moreJay Ahuja
Philippines
Read moreChelsea Johnson
Philippines
Read moreKenneth Abbott
Philippines
Read moreBrian Horsley
Philippines
Read moreSusan Gurley
Philippines
Read moreChristian Carroll
Philippines
Read moreGrace Bhairo
Philippines
Read morePaul Christ
Russia
Paul Christ, retired Vice President, Economics and Risk Management for Land O’Lakes, applied his 26…
Lance Staggenborg
Rwanda
Rwanda has only been in feed operations for about two years and their production capacity is small.…
Leah Tewksbury
Rwanda
Leah Tewksbury shares recommendations from work with cooperative in Rwanda
Elizabeth Norden
Rwanda
Read moreRachel Schattman
Senegal
I have been working in agriculture, either as a farm worker, farm owner, or Extension specialist for…
Erin Schneider
Senegal
Erin Schneider has been volunteering with NCBA CLUSA’s Senegal Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program since…
Sequoia Ireland
Senegal
In May of 2016, Sequoia, an organic vegetable and animal health specialist, traveled to the Koalack…
Ples Spradley
Senegal
In September 2015, US pesticide safety educator Ples Spradley traveled to Senegal as an expert volunteer,…
Bob Shumaker
Senegal
Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Bob Shumaker recently completed his fourth F2F assignment, leading trainings…
Hans Kandel
Sierra Leone
North Dakota State University professor and Extension agronomist Hans Kandel traveled to Sierra Leone…
Bruce Gregory
Tajikistan
Alisher Dehkan Farm in Tajikistan’s Khatlon Province has been producing apples, plums, bing cherry,…
Sen Seong
Tajikistan
Sen Seong is an entomologist based in Gurnee, Illinois, and a recurring volunteer with ACDI/VOCA’s…
Frank Wertheim
Tanzania
Read moreChelsea Johnson
Timor-Leste
Read moreZaquiel Martins
Timor-Leste
Read moreRyan Ringuette
Uganda
Volunteering has (accidentally) become my family’s tradition. Both my father and mother are Returned…
Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer of the Year Returns for Third Assignment in Zambia
Zambia
Jock Brandis and Randy Shackleford test peanut aflatoxin levels in the tailgate of their truck in Chipata,…
Jock Brandis and Randy Shackelford
Zambia
Jock Brandis is the founder and research and development director of Full Belly Project, a North Carolina-based…
Charlene Nash: VEGA Volunteer of the Year
Zambia
Charlene Nash has volunteered three times with National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International…
Andrew Clark
Zimbabwe
Read moreBehind the Success of the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Approach
Other
The concept of Farmer to Farmer is simple. U.S. volunteers with decades of experience in farming and…
F2F Host in Colombia Launches Skincare Products at Whole Foods
Other
This article was authored by Andrés Varona and Taylor Nelson of Partners of the Americas and originally…
Host Spotlight: Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala
Other
The Federacion Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG) is an association of small…
Malawi Government Impressed with USAID Funded Farmer-to-Farmer Project
Other
Authorities have expressed satisfaction with the efforts by the Washington DC based non partisan organization,…
Supporting Mango Farming Among Women in Kitui County by Enhancing the Capacity of Local Mango Processor
Other
Today, Kalumu has a reason to smile. In a given season, she earns between $500-800, and last season…
Credit and Savings Training Leads Farmers Association and Surrounding Community to Financial Success
Other
Tadzera Kulima, a local name meaning “we are here for farming,” is a farmers’ association located…