A Journey of Excitement, Joy, and Learning in Ireland

By Hilton Waits
Louisiana 4-H

Wow, what a wonderful experience and opportunity it was for the young people who attended the Louisiana 4-H Goes to Ireland trip. I am very thankful to have been a part of this group and to serve as a chaperone for such a special trip.

When Karl Wiggers asked if I would like to write something for his blog about my trip experience, I, of course, said yes. As I reflected on the 10-day trip, three words came to mind that describe this amazing adventure: excitement, joy, and reflection.

After working through a busy 4-H summer with 4-H University, camp, and horse shows, I hadn't really focused on the trip. I had done the preplanning to get organized, and once the concept of packing in one carry-on suitcase for 10 days had finally sunk in, it happened. About four days before our departure, the excitement started to build — the trip was finally here. When our group met at the airport, the excitement was evident as the 4-H members, some meeting for the first time, shared their own enthusiasm for the journey ahead.

Once we arrived and began touring, it was a joyful and fun experience to watch the kids bond together. It was fascinating to learn about Irish culture and history as we toured Dublin. As we made our way out of Dublin and into Ireland’s countryside, the scenery was beautiful. Rolling hills and lush green pastures created a stunning backdrop for many beautiful pictures. Ireland’s landscape was amazing, but our agricultural tours were equally impressive. It was inspiring to watch the young people interact with the Irish farmers and ranchers as they asked questions about their methods of production in Ireland. These discussions sparked much conversation on the “motorcoach” about how the practices compared to those in the U.S.

Each stop revealed similar themes: Ireland's farms are family-run enterprises, passed down through generations, with a true passion for the land. The farmers value the importance of agriculture — not only for their community and country, but for the world.

Now that this amazing journey has come to an end, I can’t help but reflect on how special this opportunity was for all of us. For many of the 4-H members attending the trip, it was their first time flying and their first experience traveling outside the U.S. As I continue to reflect on our travels, I realize that we are more alike than we are different. Ireland’s farmers and ranchers face some of the same issues as American farmers and ranchers: high input costs, difficulties with labor, regulations, and challenging profit margins.

While the full importance and impact of this trip to Ireland may not yet be completely understood by the young people who attended, I hope that we can all recognize that the journey of life and continued learning can be an exciting adventure. And it can even be done with just one carry-on bag!