Happy International Volunteer Day! -A perfect complement to our F2F 3oth anniversary celebrations.

Winrock is proud and grateful to have implemented the Farmer-to-Farmer program for 24 of the program’s 30 years.

We end this celebratory week with thoughts from Winrock’s two F2F Program Directors.

“The United States is known for our volunteerism across many walks of life. Farmer-to-Farmer has brought together people from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries to grow healthier food while protecting the environment. I’ve seen tremendous service and personal sacrifices by dedicated volunteers, F2F staff, hosts, and partners. There’s a saying in sports, ‘leave it all on the field.’ This means don’t hold anything back, give all the effort you can, and at the end of the competition you won’t have any regrets. Thank you to so many inspiring volunteers and supporters for leaving it all on the field….which in most cases is a farm field!”  —Nona Fisher

“Working closely with F2F over the last 15 years, many of our volunteers and country staff have become like extended family. I’ve been fortunate to come to know many of them socially over the years. I know the same is true of the relationship between volunteers, F2F country staff, and hosts. Thinking back over my experience with the program, I often remember stories which illustrate the importance of these relationships, those which represent the true impact of F2F, but are hard to quantify in terms of reporting program performance. I fondly remember stories of volunteers serving as surrogate family members for children of hosts in the US; volunteers continuing to provide technical and/or financial support to hosts many years after their assignments ended; hosts or field staff naming children after volunteers, or bestowing local names upon volunteers as a sign of admiration and belonging; and witnessing the ripple of healing thoughts and prayers for peace sent around the world when one of our extended F2F family was in need. This aspect of the program – building connection and fostering cooperation between individuals from different countries, cultures, races, religious traditions, and socioeconomic statuses – is the true measure of the F2F program, and is, perhaps, needed more today than ever.” —DeAnn McGrew

Come join the F2F family! -Check out our current volunteer opportunities at www.winrock.org/volunteer.

The Farmer-to-Farmer field staff are the core of the program, working tirelessly to deliver quality technical assistance to local host organizations and take good care of each volunteer that sets foot in their country. Without them, the program could not succeed.

In today’s blog post, three Winrock F2F field staff reflect on their experience with the program. Be prepared to be inspired!

F2F Nigeria Country Director, Mike Bassey:

“Meeting and working with F2F volunteers has been the best privilege I have enjoyed so far. In my nearly five years with the Farmer-to-Farmer program, I have met, spoken to, shaken hands, and travelled, eaten, and shared laughter and memorable experiences with over 100 F2F volunteers from nearly every state of the United States. Never in my entire life have I met people from such diverse backgrounds yet so homogeneously down to earth, sincere, and with a strong passion to help.

One memorable experience was with Dr. Mathew Baker, a professor of Agricultural Education and Communications at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. During Dr. Baker’s assignments, apart from discussing the assignment during our routine evening walks, we also discussed leadership issues, among other things. He provided a lot of insights into the many leadership topics; most of which I have found very useful. This friendship has been so strong that Baker and his family lodged me for four days in their home in Lubbock and hosted friends and colleagues to a dinner in my honor during my visit to the US in the fall of 2014. This is particularly important to me because it came at a time when no one would go near a Nigerian because of the Ebola epidemic ravaging a number countries in the west African region at the time.

The summary of my experience with the F2F program over the years is that, for one: the volunteers are ever willing to learn, adaptable to the people and their cultures, and ever ready to give their best. As a program, F2F has removed the dichotomy created by colonialism between the elite scholar and the poor peasant farmer. It has taught leaders to have a listening ear for the followers.”

F2F Nepal Assistant Country Manager and M&E Specialist, Chhan B. Bhattachan:

“The day that I joined F2F program in January 2014 seems like yesterday. Since then, I have experienced many memorable moments working with volunteers, hosts and project activities.

I remember a full class of 70, attended by mostly female students, at Uttarpani Technical School during volunteer Anil Shrestha’s presentation on food security issues and farming practices in US. The participants (not only the students but also faculty members) were so attentive. It was great exposure for them.

During the F2F assignment on youth facilitation and entrepreneurial skills development withvolunteer Jeremy Elliot-Angel, the last day of training was very hectic, as the trainees waited to be elected as the ‘best entrepreneur team.’ The day was allocated for teams to prepare business concepts, including a mission, company slogan, promotion strategy, and a minute of television advertisement enacted by all members of the team. The eight different groups prepared their  business ideas and television advertisements. Each team was given five minutes to present their business concept, and the remaining groups asked questions and gave feedback. After all groups finished their presentations, each business was judged by individual members. That really was an entrepreneurial election!

From volunteer James Faber, I learned why and how shifting people’s paradigm is crucial.

I am enjoying collecting and documenting achievements from the program, as well as working with diverse host organizations, highly experienced volunteers, and a motivated team!”

Ricardo Auerbach, F2F El Salvador Country Director from 2003-2013:

“99% of my experiences with F2F are memorable! I learned a lot from so many diverse topics that we trained farmers; we traveled around the whole country and other parts of the Central American region to support farmers and bring innovative but applicable ideas to improve their family incomes. And we could share our culture with American volunteers that enjoyed their time in country, living nice relaxing moments after long days of work.

This means that one blog entry could not be enough to highlight our great moments implementing F2F!

I will choose one subsector as an example: Dairy. Between 2003-2013, nearly 40 F2F volunteers introduced food quality and safety standards to 12 dairy processors, which, in turn, modernized their facilities and increased their sales by producing higher quality cheese. Representing more than six thousand farmers, their sales are now more than 9 million dollars.

I’m proud to have been part of the USAID F2F program for ten years! It was a ‘school’ for me, not just to learn scientific and technical concepts, but to develop friendships with American volunteers, local partners, and farmers. My huge lesson learned is that sustainable rural development is like a puzzle. I learned to identify the weak links in the value chain and find the correct puzzle pieces to engage it, and after a while, look for the complete picture.“

This article is a contribution to a four-week blog series celebrating 30 years of USAID’s John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program.

30 years of Farmer-to-Farmer! For a program so rich in diversity, personal and professional exchanges, and lasting impacts, there is so much we could share!

We asked current and former Winrock Farmer-to-Farmer staff to think about their favorite memories and most impactful moments over the years implementing this unique program. Their stories are inspiring and a testimony to why the program still continues three decades after it began.

Over the next four days, we will feature stories from some of these staff, in honor of both the F2F anniversary as well as International Volunteer Day on December 5^th.

To kick us off today, Winrock’s former director of volunteer technical assistance, Demetria Arvanitis, shares how F2F is like a family:

“Two weeks ago, as I was texting a former colleague traveling across Europe to alert her to the attack in Paris, I realized that even though I have left Winrock and F2F after 19 years, I will be connected for life to the F2F team, volunteers, and host organizations worldwide.

The F2F project was designed to provide practical agricultural support to farmers all over the world and also to expose American farmers to the world of international development. The deep relationships that have resulted are far beyond what could have been anticipated. Starting with the team in the US that support the recruitment and fielding of volunteers, to the country team who meets the volunteers upon arrival and takes care of their every need, to the hosts who open their homes and hearts, the commitment and loving care is the common thread.

This consideration for the safety and well-being is a core value of the relationships that developed between all members of the F2F family; and it is a family. Also part of this family are the USAID staff who have guided implementers over the years, ensuring that the quality and values of the program remain intact regardless of political changes.

The inspiration behind all of this passion and commitment is the local farmers, cooperative members, youth, and business owners struggling to provide a better life for their families. Their initiative and perseverance are so inspiring that the only option is to jump in with both feet and give it your all. From the women in Nepal who demanded support for organic agriculture years before this was popular, to the farmers in Myanmar desperate for information from the outside to help them improve their yields, our farmer family worldwide is innovative and open to change.

The global community that has resulted from the F2F program is an example of how to make the world more connected by very simple acts of kindness and connectedness. One memory that exemplifies this to me is the act of kindness by a volunteer from Maine, Pixie Day. After a very productive volunteer assignment outside of Moscow supporting goat production with Alexander Bodorov, Pixie returned home and months later drove Buck the stud goat in her beat up Chevy to Boston Logan airport to ship him to Russia to the Bodorov farm. Of course this was a surprise to the Winrock Moscow office and Alexander, but this act of selfless kindness will forever be engrained in my memory and Alexander’s!

Thanks to the full F2F Family for your big hearted efforts and commitment to creating community worldwide!”

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From November 16-December 11, F2F program partners are sharing their knowledge and experience providing technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses, service providers, and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries. As aligned with Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, F2F works to support inclusive agriculture sector growth, facilitate private sector engagement in the agriculture sector, enhance development of local capacity and promote climate-smart development. Volunteer assignments address host-led priorities to expand economic growth that increases incomes and improves access to nutritious food. This blog series aims to capture and share this program experience.

Read more articles celebrating 30 years of F2F on Agrilinks

This month, we wrap up 10 1/2 years of Farmer-to-Farmer activities in El Salvador. While we are disappointed to close our operations there, we are proud of what we have achieved, including (more…)

“I have been coming back to Latin America time and again for 35 years to work with rural farmers. I am continually “re-born” each time in having the honor to work with small scale farmers, be they in El Salvador or elsewhere.” –Charles Mitchell, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer in El Salvador

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Charles was one of five farmers from the Vermont chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) who volunteered to help farmers in El Salvador this year.

The NOFA volunteers worked with technicians and extensionists from FUNDESYRAM (a Salvadoran nonprofit working to alleviate poverty), providing hands-on training and technical assistance to FUNDESYRAM staff and groups of farmers that they support. Over the course of three separate assignments, the volunteers addressed issues related to horticulture production, organic farming practices, animal husbandry, and enterprise development.

The FUNDESYRAM staff sharpened their skills and gained inspiration from the volunteers.

“The help that the volunteers bring reinforces our own work and strengthens our ability to serve farmers and do our job,” one technician noted.

“The volunteers are examples of success. The farmers see that and are hopeful and inspired,” another technician explained.

Many thanks to Charles and the other NOFA volunteers for a job well done!