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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, a public relations manager for the UGA Terry College of Business, 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.
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