The 2015 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is currently accepting applications from high school seniors and college freshmen who are passionate about agriculture and are interested in representing Kansas in a week-long exchange program December 7-11, 2015.

Each year the National Taichung Agricultural Senior High School in central Taiwan hosts students from the Midwest for this program. Selected students will tour agricultural facilities and businesses in Taiwan, and will learn about Taiwanese agriculture.

Exports play an important role in Kansas agriculture. According to Euromonitor, in 2014 Kansas exported just over $100.8 million in agricultural goods to Taiwan including beef, oil seeds, cereal grains and wheat flour. In 2013, exports of farm and ranch products contributed nearly $5 billion to the Kansas economy.

“The Taiwan Youth Exchange Program provides an opportunity for Kansas youth to experience agriculture on a global platform. Agriculture contributes nearly $63 billion to the Kansas economy, equaling approximately 43 percent of the state’s economy,” said Kerry Wefald, Agriculture Marketing Director for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “It is important that our students understand that many commodities grown and harvested in their home communities contribute to fulfilling free trade orders with countries like Taiwan.”

Three students will be selected to represent Kansas. In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements:

·         Be a high school senior or college freshman;

·         Be at least 18 years of age by December 7, 2015;

·         Have a strong Kansas agricultural background;

·         Have a valid U.S. passport by the time of exchange program selection; and

·         Be able and willing to pay for airfare costs (approximately $1,000).

Applications must be submitted by November 4 to be considered. Students interested in applying should reference the 2015 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program Opportunity informational handout for more details visit: http://agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/ag-marketing/travel-to-taiwan---2015.pdf?sfvrsn=6.

Coordination of the program is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas FFA Association and Kansas 4-H.

For more information, contact KDA Education and Events Coordinator Robin Blume at robin.blume@kda.ks.gov or 785-564-6756.