A group of University of Idaho students recently returned from a semester-long educational journey that culminated in a spring-break visit to Spain, where they observed European agricultural practices, visited historic markets, and learned production techniques unfamiliar to most American farming operations.
The trip was part of AGED 4070: Global Agricultural and Life Sciences Systems, a course that offers students the opportunity to study agriculture and food production in one of four countries: Spain, Ireland, Taiwan, or Singapore. The students spent weeks preparing before departure, building foundational knowledge of Spanish culture, its education system, agricultural industry, and political landscape.
Market History and Agricultural Connections
While in Spain, the group toured the Ordizia market, an agricultural trading center with roots extending more than five centuries into the region’s past. The market holds historical significance as the first weekly market in the region and traditionally set prices for agricultural goods across other nearby markets. A Spanish government mandate requires the market to operate every Wednesday, preserving a tradition that has shaped the region’s agricultural commerce for generations.
The students also visited a sheep and cheesemaking facility where they observed Idiazábal cheese production and aging at various stages—one, two, seven, and nine years—demonstrating the time investment required for traditional European cheese production. Additional stops included local museums and discussions with regional producers about water policy and resource management in Spanish agriculture.
Grafting Techniques and Pest Resistance
One of the most technical components of the visit involved touring a grafting facility, where students learned how American rootstocks resistant to phylloxera—a destructive pest—are joined with European vines. The grafting technique, which combines parts from two separate plants so they grow as a single organism, allows European vineyards to benefit from American pest resistance while maintaining traditional grape varieties.
The facility is family-owned, operated for multiple generations by the García Salvatierra family. Notably, Jaizkibel García Salvatierra, a member of the family business, had previously completed a study-abroad experience through the University of Idaho, creating a reciprocal educational connection between the institution and the Spanish operation.
Students also toured a vine and wine museum, rounding out their exposure to Spain’s viticulture heritage and modern production methods.
Student Perspective and Future Applications
Rachel Wandell, a senior majoring in agricultural education and animal and veterinary science with a production emphasis, traveled with seven classmates and three University of Idaho faculty members. The trip provided hands-on exposure to agricultural diversity across Europe.
“It was really cool to see that variety of agriculture,” Wandell said of the experience. She noted that the international exposure will inform her potential career path, particularly if she pursues work in Extension services. “Traveling abroad really gave me a full scope on where other countries may be coming from in terms of policy work as well as things that I can incorporate if I were to have a future Extension career, such as grafting.”
Three College of Agricultural and Life Sciences professionals led the educational experience: Erin Brooks, a professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems; Surine Greenway, an Extension educator based in Owyhee County; and Kacie Hoffman, director of recruitment and student engagement.
The trip reflects the University of Idaho’s commitment to broadening students’ understanding of global agricultural systems and international policy frameworks—exposure that extends beyond classroom learning and textbook knowledge. For students pursuing careers in agricultural education, Extension work, or agricultural business, such firsthand experience with international markets, production techniques, and policy environments provides practical context for decision-making in their future professional roles.
The course’s structure, offering multiple country options, allows students to tailor their international experience to their specific academic interests and career goals while maintaining rigorous preparation and faculty-led field study components.
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What Comes Next
The University of Idaho’s global agriculture program continues to offer spring-break international options for students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The AGED 4070 course will remain available for future cohorts seeking international field study, with applications and enrollment typically opening in advance of the academic year preceding the travel experience.