BOWDEN, Alta. – Since Alice Reilly arrived in Alberta from New Zealand this spring, she has learned about country music, coyotes, Canadian slang and Tim Horton’s coffee.
The 22-year-old exchange student is part of AgriVenture and works at Maartin and Joanne Wouters’ dairy east of Bowden, Alta.
Originally called the International Agricultural Exchange Association, the program that was formed in 1965 has seen more than 30,000 youth participating in its rural exchange program. Now called AgriVenture, it matches trainees aged 18 to 30 with host families around the world.
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Reilly was working for a fertilizer company when she decided to learn more about agriculture in other countries. She wanted to put her animal science degree to good use and experience different production practices.
“You don’t want to go to another country and see what you see at home,” she said.
When she leaves the Wouters next week, she heads to England to work on a sheep dairy near Coventry for nine months.
In Alberta, she has heard the coyotes howl, seen different crops and acquired new skills. She has learned how to artificially inseminate cows and how the milk quota system used in Canada compares with New Zealand, where most dairy products are exported to Asia and Europe.
Her dream is to use those skills to take over the family operation where her family milks 270 cows on the South Island.
Although Reilly grew up on a dairy farm, she had little hands-on experience in working with the cattle because her family employs managers and custom operators.
She is the fourth trainee to come to the Wouters farm.
“We’ve had a lot of enjoyment out of it. You stay on top of things because they arrive with the newest things out of university. They are up to date on things,” Joanne Wouters said.
The Wouters emigrated from a farm in Luxembourg in 1996 and joined the program to see if anyone from their homeland would be interested in working for them on their 700 acre farm.
They can appreciate the cultural shock some trainees feel from their own experience in a different country.
“We were like trainees. It is all dairy farming but it was so different,” Wouters said.
They first saw their new farm in January with snow banks and -40 C weather. They had three young children under the age of seven who did not speak English.
Wouters said Reilly, who required little training, has helped in the garden, fields, dairy barns and around the house.
“It’s like being at home. You can’t just sit and watch people work and say feed me,” Reilly said.
People can join AgriVenture for three, six or nine months or a year. Many of the participants are also here to improve their English and some are exploring immigration.
The trainee pays a fee and the organization takes care of airfares, visas and other paperwork. The host family agrees to pay their wages and train them. There is also time for socializing and meeting with other trainees.
