CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/25/15

Fifth annual Ag Abroad Photo Contest brings the world to the University of Georgia

By Merritt Melancon

A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but for University of Georgia students who participate in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ (CAES) Ag Abroad Photo Contest, they are worth much more.

These students’ photos are representative of an expanded worldview, unique educational opportunities and life-changing travel experiences.

For the past five years, the CAES Office of Global Programs has asked students to share the photos that they’ve taken during their travels abroad. The photos are then displayed at the college’s annual International Agriculture Reception in April.

For some, the contest is a way to share a piece of their home country. For others, it’s a chance to document what they learned during their study abroad trip or international internship. And still for others, it’s a chance to show off their skill with a camera.

Whatever the motivation, the photos allow the contest participants and their fellow students to learn about agriculture in a way that they might not encounter during a class or a domestic internship.

“The Ag Abroad Photo Contest is a way for students to tell a meaningful story from their time abroad and to reflect upon what they encountered,” said Amanda Stephens, associate director of student engagement for CAES and the contest’s organizer. “These students have life-changing experiences, and their photos are a snapshot into a particular culture and the moments that impacted them greatly.”

“Two students may have the same experience abroad but take away completely different perspectives,” she said. “The photo contest gives students a chance to process and interpret their international experiences while sharing them with other students who may be encouraged to go abroad in the future.”

This year students submitted 33 photos from five different continents. The winning photos were taken in Tanzania, China and Nepal.

Charlotte Goldman, a pre-med and biological sciences major from Bethesda, Maryland, took her first place-winning photo, “Cash Cows and Little Goat, Too,” near Lake Eyasi in Tanzania. The photo depicts a Datoga woman, who is milking one of her family's cows, allowing a baby goat to nurse from the cow. The Datoga are a pastoral tribe that places a high value on cattle for their livelihood, both as a currency and as a symbol of status. Goats are also used as a currency, though they are seen as much less valuable.

This year’s second-place photo, “Farming System,” by Nepalese poultry science doctoral student Pratima Adhikari, shows a typical day of rice cultivation in the hills of Nepal. Every member of the household participates and goes into the field to plant the rice, and every household farms to produce the food they need for the year, Adhikari wrote in the caption.

Chongxiao Chen, a graduate student from Mudanjiang,China studying poultry science at UGA, took home third place with his photo "Free Range."

For more information about the study abroad programs offered by CAES, visit global.uga.edu. To see the rest of the photos submitted to the 2015 Ag Abroad Photo Contest, visit tinyurl.com/AgAbroad2015.

Merritt Melancon is a public relations manager with UGA's Terry College of Business and previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Victoria Collins McMaken
The first place winner of the 2015 Ag Abroad Photo Contest. Entry description: This photo of a Datoga woman was taken near Lake Eyasi in Tanzania, as she milked one of her family's cows and allowed a baby goat to nurse from the cow. The woman pictured is one of five sister wives who are the main caretakers of the family's large herd of cattle and goats. The women of the family will labor many hours a day to milk, feed and water the herd. The Datoga are a pastoralist tribe that place a high value on cattle for their livelihood and as a symbol of status. Every part of the cow is used, from the day-to-day milk for nutrients and dung for wall plaster, to the bones, hide and meat upon slaughter. Cattle are used as a currency for bride prices, and a large herd is seen as a status symbol in the community. Goats are also used as a currency, though are seen as much less valuable. The second place winner of the 2015 Ag Abroad Photo Contest. Entry description: The picture was taken in July 2014. It describes a typical day of a rice planting day in hilly area of Nepal. Every member of the house hold participates and goes in the field to plant the rice. Nepal has a sustainable agriculture farming system. Every household is a farmer and has a small piece of land and few domestic animals. They live from the food they produce in field and from animals they raise. Rice is a staple food in Nepal and this picture shows a typical rice cultivation day in the hills. The field shown here is almost ready to plant the rice saplings. Farmers use ox and human power (spades) to plough the field and make it ready for planting. Usually male members plough the field and female members plant the rice. Female members of the house in the far of the picture are planting the rice. Starting from a kid you are taught about farming system. They get involved in every little way they can in the agriculture system. It is in fact fun for children to play and at the same time learn about the agriculture system and hardship of life. This small farm, in the suburbs of Beihing, China, is interesting. They raise the birds under trees and the trees can use the chicken manure. They also put the water on the ground making a small river. It is easy for birds get water at same time watering trees. The chicks live freely like the pic you see and feel.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Ron Walcott CAES News
Finding a sense of place 02/29/24 Emily Cabrera
Ron Walcott, University of Georgia vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, was first a doctoral student at the UGA Tifton campus. As a UGA administrator and professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, Walcott helps students and colleagues find their sense of place at the university and has a legacy of increasing diversity in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Illustrated by Katie Walker and Megan McCoy CAES News
CAES associate dean of academic affairs retires after 47 years of student advocacy 01/25/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard
There are more than 20,000 living alumni of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Among them are U.S. representatives, renowned environmental scientists, governors, leaders of national corporations, and a host of successful agricultural producers, among leaders in many other professions. Despite the differences in their college experiences and career trajectories, for many of these alumni, there is one unifying individual in their memories of CAES: Josef Broder.
Top stories of 2023 CAES News
Top UGA research stories of 2023 12/15/23 Isabella Aranda
Reflecting on the year 2023, University of Georgia researchers contributed to groundbreaking advancement in vaccines and health care, to the rejuvenation of American chestnut trees, to surprising revelations about the shy nature of Joro spiders, and much more. Including work from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, here are highlights of 12 of our most noteworthy research stories from this year.
Conner Hall CAES News
CAES alumnus returns as associate dean for academic affairs 11/28/23 Claire Sanders Kinnard
For Dean Kopsell, newly appointed associate dean for academic affairs for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, moving to Athens is like coming home. Currently professor and chair of the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Kopsell, a two-time UGA alumnus and devoted Georgia Bulldog fan, is eager to return to the Classic City and excited about the opportunity to serve his alma mater and the students of CAES.
Undergraduate student Carolina Pinckney holds a Georgia flag in the courtyard of the Bodelian Library in Oxford, U.K. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA) CAES News
UGA ranks top 10 in nation for study abroad participation 11/23/23 Angel Bhardwaj
The 2023 Open Doors report ranked UGA No. 6 overall in student study abroad participation and No. 3 for short-term study abroad program participation among doctoral institutions in the U.S. This report, compiled by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Institute of International Education, details study abroad data for 2021-2022, the first full post-pandemic academic year.
Nathan Tesfayi with one of the communications antennas used by the small satellite lab on the roof of the Geography Geology building. (Photo by Peter Frey/UGA) CAES News
From point to pixel: New paths in a changing world 11/06/23 Cole Sosebee
Nathan Tesfayi’s story is about resilience and big ambitions. Born in State College, Pennsylvania, to Ethiopian parents, his life journey has taken him from living in Ethiopia to studies at the University of Georgia, research with NASA and more. Tesfayi’s interest in the environment was sparked during his AP environmental sciences class at Shiloh High School in Gwinnett County.