Ag Boilers Abroad: Caroline Houck's agronomy adventure in New Zealand
Ag Boilers Abroad
Planning your next trip abroad? Learn about key strategies and experiences through the adventures of students and faculty in the Ag Boilers Abroad series. With over 400 programs in 60 countries on six continents, ranging from a week to a semester, Purdue College of Agriculture students have an abundance of study-abroad opportunities.
This summer, Caroline Houck, sophomore in the Department of Agronomy, embarked on a transformative two-week study abroad in New Zealand. The short-term summer study abroad option was the perfect choice for Houck because she planned to have an internship over the summer before entering her junior year at Purdue.
“We explored all of the North Island, starting in Auckland, and ending in Napier.”
“The two weeks we spent in New Zealand gave me more time than a spring break trip would have, but also allowed my employer to be flexible with me for the 2024 summer so I could still have an internship experience,” says Houck.
She prepared for the trip by researching the climate of New Zealand and meeting with her study abroad group. Known for its stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems, the country also boasts a robust agricultural sector.
“I have grown in my understanding of how other countries work regarding agriculture,” says Houck. “We encountered a farmer known for growing Asian greens. We learned that they plant and harvest every week due to the mild climate and the fact that they rarely have frost. This blew my mind. As someone from Indiana who has, for 20 years, seen the corn and soybeans pop up in the summer and be harvested in the fall, with the fields bare in the wintertime.”
During her stay, Houck participated in a variety of hands-on activities. She spent time on sheep and dairy farms, learning about New Zealand's renowned pastoral farming systems. She also visited vineyards and orchards, where she explored the intricacies of horticultural practices unique to the region.
“This experience has shaped my idea of the world, realizing how big it is and how differently yet efficiently people work, and how their normal is very different from our normal,” says Houck. “It is important to keep an open mind and be comfortable with learning from others in the world to continue to improve ourselves as well as the world.”
Houck says her adventure in New Zealand shows how stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing new experiences can lead to personal and academic growth.
Now is the time to study abroad
It will never be more affordable or accessible at the touch of your fingertips. Don't be afraid you don’t know anyone because none of us knew anyone else, but every night we played cards in each other's rooms like we had been friends for years!”
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