Louisiana 4-H Explores Agriculture on the Emerald Isle

By Karl Wiggers

Louisiana Farm Bureau News

When more than 140 Louisiana 4-H members, leaders and parents boarded planes bound for Dublin, they were stepping into more than a ten-day international tour—they were embarking on a journey that would shape their agricultural knowledge, life skills and friendships.

The trip, organized through Louisiana 4-H, included stops at dairy farms, beef operations, vegetable farms, an apple orchard, oyster farms and even the famed Irish National Stud horse farm. Each visit offered a chance for students to see how Irish farmers operate in a climate where lush green pastures thrive nearly year-round.

For Hannah Devall, 4-H youth development professional and a group leader, the value was in the growth she saw among participants. 

“Our goal in 4-H is life skill development—teamwork, adaptability, empathy,” Devall said. “Watching them work together, ask questions and immerse themselves in another culture was exactly why we do what we do.”

Hands-on learning was a major theme. At Redmond’s Farm, students knelt in the soil to plant cauliflower, hauled nets across fields, and later ate a farm-to-table meal featuring beef from the same operation. At an oyster farm, teams raced to pack oysters for shipment, flipped heavy traps, and even tasted fresh oysters straight from the bay.

TWILA’s Karl Wiggers and Josh Meeks documented the trip for the Louisiana Farm Bureau, capturing not only the agriculture but also the camaraderie that developed along the way.

“I was amazed by how articulate these kids were on camera,” Meeks said. “They gave thoughtful, detailed answers that showed how much they’d absorbed from the experience.”

The itinerary also included cultural highlights like the Cliffs of Moher, Galway’s winding streets and medieval castles. But the heart of the trip was in the small moments—students comparing farming practices between Ireland and Louisiana, sharing meals, and forging friendships with people they’d just met.

Devall said the trip’s success was evident at the airport on the way home. 

“They were talking about their favorite farms, laughing about inside jokes from the bus, and reflecting on what they’d learned. Their perspective on agriculture—and on each other—had completely changed.”

For the Louisiana Farm Bureau and Louisiana 4-H, the trip underscored the shared mission of cultivating future leaders in agriculture.

“Ideally, these 4-H’ers grow into Farm Bureau members who continue to advocate for agriculture, Devall said."

Watch the full video coverage of the trip on TWILA’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@TWILA-TV or listen to the complete podcast episode https://share.transistor.fm/s/ec29f21f. Photo galleries and blog posts from the trip are available at https://www.twilatv.org/blog.