The Rural Voice, 1983-10, Page 16by Alice Gibb
The International Agricultural Ex-
change Association (IAEA) is a work
program established 20 years ago for
rural youth who want to establish
personal contacts with farm families
in other countries.
Today, the IAEA, founded in Den-
mark by Hans Kristensen, provides
young people from 18 countries with
the opportunity to study agricultural
practices in other countries through
Studying agricultural practices
in other countries
placements with host families on ap-
proved training farms.
Anyone aged 19 to 28 years old,
who is single, has some farm ex-
perience, a valid driver's licence, is in
good health and has no criminal
record, is eligible to apply for either a
six-month or a year-long IAEA place-
ment.
Once accepted as a trainee, ap-
plicants are matched with a host
family in the country they've selected.
Brad Cann: "Personally, 1 thought it was the best thing that ever
happened to me."
PG. 14 THE RURAL VOICE, OCTOBER 1983
Room and board, including a private
room; a training allowance and at
least three weeks unpaid holiday time
are guaranteed during each six-month
work period.
Brad Cann, R.R. 3, Exeter, learn-
ed about IAEA just by chance, as
graduation from Ridgetown College
of Agriculture loomed ahead. Not
certain what he wanted to do after
college, Brad applied for the year-
long exchange, "although I didn't
know what I was getting into."
Brad says the program is looking
for trainees with some experience of
living away from home
-"homesickness is one of the worst
problems" - and with some farm
background.
In applying for the year-long pro-
gram, Brad was offered six months in
Australia or New Zealand, and six
months in Europe, with lots of in-
teresting sightseeing en route. While
trainees are paid an allowance by
their host families, they pay travel ex-
penses to reach the countries out of
their own pocket.
When he applied, Brad asked to
work on a combined hog -cash crop
operation. Other alternatives include
working on dairy or livestock opera-
tions, or in horticultural operations.
Applicants with a good general
knowledge of household duties can
apply for home management
postings, which might include
babysitting and other indoor chores,
or in the agri-mix category, which is
some indoor duties combined with
farm chores.
Brad flew to Australia via Den-
mark, where the Canadian trainees
were joined by Danish trainees. The
group then stopped for five days of
travel in exotic Thailand and the
bustling city of Singapore.
Once in Australia, the first week of
the exchange is generally spent in
seminars -getting acquainted with
fellow trainees from around the
world, touring local farms, learning
some of the country's customs and
finding out what to expect on host
farms.
Bob and Anne, Brad's host family,
operate a 120 sow farrow -to -finish
operation, with 90 polled herefords