"Outtakes and Observations" documents the international travels of the LSU Ag Leadership Program, and a tribute to its original writer, Michael Danna. Mike loved traveling the world with each class and blogged from all corners of the globe starting with his trip to South America as a member of Class VIII in 2004. Mike lost his third battle with cancer on March 6, 2015, but his work continues here. Members of each class will offer their thoughts and insights during their travels, so check back often as we honor Mike’s memory and look forward to the future leadership of Louisiana agriculture.
by Dr. Bobby Soileau
Our class got to see quite a variety of agriculture today from crops to livestock to crocodiles. It was even better to be greeted so warmly by our hosts.
We began the day in Delmas which is located southeast of Johannesburg. There we met with Brent Parrot who is the general manager of the crop portion of the Schoeman Boerdery. They grow almost 25,000 acres of corn, soybeans and white navy beans. It was an impressive operation that is predominantly non-irrigated.
Read Moreby A.J. Sabine
Shakespeare said it best: “To thine own self be true…” Culturally, local farmers, vendors, and loyal visitors of the Pretoria Boermark revealed one of several powerful truth of locally sourced agriculture can bring together urban and rural communities.
Read Moreby Dr. Bobby Soileau
After a long but successful flight we arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. After a wonderful dinner it was time to get some rest. At least that was the wishful thinking of some in our group.
For some of our people it is their first experience with jet lag. We are eight hours ahead of everyone back home, and sometimes you wake up much earlier than you anticipated. That said, everyone was ready as we began our first full day in South Africa.
Read Moreby A.J. Sabine
When I was told that I was headed to South Africa to explore agriculture with the LSU AgCenter’s Ag Leadership Class XIV I couldn’t have been more excited! Having traveled to Central America with my mentor Mike Danna nearly four years ago as a member of LSU Ag Leadership Class XVIII, the chance to document the trip as he had for me nearly four years ago rung just a little hollow.
Read Moreby Dr. Bobby Soileau
Ten years ago we were preparing for the Ag Leadership international trip for Class IX to China. Dr. Mike Futrell was directing the program and he made a great decision. He invited Jim Monroe and Mike Danna of Louisiana Farm Bureau to document the trip.
That was my first international trip with our program, and it was obvious they needed to be a part of our future trips. The photographs and videos produced for each trip since then have been great for the class and the program.
Read Moreby Carey D. Martin
I met Mike Danna 25 years ago. I was a 21 year-old college student, and he was a 30 year-old sharp dressed man with a smile and personality that made me feel like I had known him since childhood. I can still remember that first handshake like it was yesterday. I even remember the exact spot where I was standing. It was a handshake that changed my life.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Public Relations Director
I trust everyone made it safely home, got some well-deserved rest and is readjusting to being back in the greatest country on earth. There’s nothing like seeing the world for what it truly is, but there’s also nothing like sleeping in one’s own bed safe in the knowledge that, essentially, we have it made.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
The last voyage of the famed explorer Christopher Columbus found the worldly Italian landing in Costa Rica. The man probably thought about retiring here. Who wouldn’t want to spend his golden years in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It isn’t called the rich coast for nothing.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
Donnie Wooley and Danielle Yerby supported Johnny Araya for president. Danielle wore her candidate’s colors, green and white and waved a green and white flag. Kristin McLaren was pulling for Luis Guillermo, whose supporters handed her a red T-shirt bearing his web address. With 60 percent expected voter turnout, it’s doubtful class members had enough political stroke to sway the election, particularly since they weren’t allowed to vote. But that didn’t stop the candidates’ supporters from letting them score some serious Election Day swag.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
Hey folks, check out my two new posts below. The net is very slow here. The copy loaded, but if you don’t see any new photos it’s because the hotel couldn’t provide enough bandwidth. A final post coming tomorrow as we wrap up our tour of Central America on Monday. Thanks for following us.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
If you refer to a banana plant as a tree Carlos Gamboa will point his razor sharp machete at you and tell you not to call it that. At the Dole Banana Plantation today outside La Fortuna the class learned everything there is to know about the banana. It really is the perfect food.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
There’s still a prevailing notion that women in agriculture are something of a novelty. That’s like saying women might one day make it to the boardroom. While women do make up a small percentage of farm-owner/operators, (less than 6 percent nationwide), the number of women taking a more active role in agriculture is on the upswing.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
A belated shout-out happy birthday to Josh Vines, who celebrated his 29th trip around the sun last night. We celebrated with a cake provided by the restaurant.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
We had another great day today. We visited a sugarcane plantation, followed by lunch and a stop at the Iguana Ice Cream Shoppe.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
It’s amazing what hours on a bus will do for your interpersonal disposition. Every AgLeadership international trip involves riding on buses to get to the next destination. That down time usually gives me a chance to get to know the class members. Some I’ve known for years; others I’m meeting for the first time. But each member has, so far, left a distinct impression on me.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations
A man who really loves his family, I mean really loves them, will chop sugarcane with a machete 10 hours a day in 95-degree heat. He’ll even leave his home in Nicaragua and walk to where the work is: in Costa Rica.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
There have been volumes written about American’s love affair with their smart phones. One of the films up for an Oscar this year is “Her,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, a romantic letter writer who falls in love with his software, so to speak. A modern day “Romeo and Siri,” if you will.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
If Nicaragua is the charcoal briquette of Central America, neighboring Costa Rica is Latin America’s Crown Jewel. You can pick your friends, as they say, but you can’t pick your neighbors.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
The blog blackout over the last two nights comes to an end with our arrival in Costa Rica Wednesday night. The hotel in Jinotego, Selva Negra, Nicaragua, was something out of a Hemingway novel; pre-War German-influence architecture, small rooms and rustic, lush green courtyards and sitting areas. The most reliable thing in the hotel was the laundry service and the bar. For most on this tour that’s all that was really needed.
Read MoreBy Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
No matter where AgLeadership graduates travel, be it China, Chile or Central America, they always pick up on the common tie that binds Third World nations: the cost of labor.
Read More
