Spring Break Agricultural, Environmental and Community Sustainability Program in Costa Rica
Twenty-one College of Ag Boilermaker students enjoyed a week in Costa Rica during Spring Break 2025. The program, “Agricultural, Environmental, and Community Sustainability,” was led by Dr. Corey Gerber and Mandy Chalk Marquardt. Trip highlights included pineapple and coffee farm tours, visiting the Observatory Lodge to see the Arenal Volcano, hiking down to the base of the La Fortuna Waterfall for a cold swim and spending time at the beach on Tortugas Island.
Sophomore Kylie Saathoff (Agribusiness; Manteno, IL) chose Costa Rica for her first study abroad because of the week-long duration, the warmth of Costa Rica and the exciting list of activities. She shared, “My favorite moment was when we attended the rodeo at a local street fair. It was there that I really got to experience the culture firsthand. It was also the first night the group spent together; having such a great time while getting to know each other really set the tone for the rest of the trip.” Kylie added, “This trip has changed the way I view travel, opening my eyes to how much is out there.”
Having traveled to Iceland during a study abroad program last May, Junior Jade Larrison (Agribusiness; Grand Haven, MI) was looking to travel farther south on her next study abroad, and she did! She commented, “This trip has been so impactful because I realized that all the stress from school is temporary. This is something I knew before, but traveling somewhere where everyone is so relaxed helped me realize that loosening up is a healthy thing.”
Senior Katie Livingston (Agribusiness; West Winfield, NY) selected the Costa Rica study abroad program because it was so different from any place she had seen before, offered a break from the cold winter weather and she wanted to see some of Costa Rica’s wildlife. Her favorite memory was “eating the fresh pineapple on the farm tour. As a fruit lover, I know that I will probably never have pineapple that good again.” Katie was also pretty thrilled to swim in the Pacific Ocean for the first time!
