“Oh Hey Mr. Cactus!” You don’t look like Homeboy Palm Tree! As
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ambassadors, we were able to see the
Arizona beauty. From the beautiful orange mountains, powdery white snow on Mt.
Lemmon to the amazing desert lands, we have seen Tombstone, Yuma, Nogales,
Flagstaff, Grand Canyon; you name it we have probably been there. Aside from
how amazing Arizona’s climate is, we got the opportunity to meet Ambassadors
from the University of Arizona, The Ohio State University, University of
Kentucky and University of Georgia. All roads lead to the BIG HOLE!
Our first day in Tucson started off with a leadership workshop
with our fellow ambassadors by Dow AgroSciences. This workshop allowed us to
get out of our comfort zones and really get to know each other while working
together as a team. By the end of this workshop, we were able to learn and
utilize the soft skills that employers look for when they are looking to hire
potential employees. Soft skills are skills that make you a great leader. They
are attributes that complement your technical skills. Which soft skill is the
most important? Is it good listening, communicating or good decision-making? As
you may have guessed, all of them are important. Based on feedback from
employers that participated in a survey, communication is the most important
soft skill, even though all the other skills are very important for being a
great leader.
As our day progressed, we went up Mt. Lemmon and for me this
was an experience. At the base of the mountain was the desert. It was dry and
fairly warm. As the elevation changed, so did the climate. Like most Floridians, I have never seen snow!
Well, there’s a “first time for
everything”. I made my first snowball and sure enough, I had a snowball fight! And
the view at the top of the mountain, breath-taking! We were overlooking the
desert below.
On the day two, we had an opportunity to visit Nogales, a city
close to the border of Mexico. We actually saw the fence that separated the
United States from Mexico and it was awesome. Even though we were a few feet
from the fence, we were still able to see a small piece of Mexico. While in
Nogales, we had lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant called Las Vigas. They
served the best Mexican food I have ever tasted and it was the closest thing I
have had thus far, that was truly Mexican. Just being over the border would
have topped it all off. So after, we journeyed to Tombstone to see the famous
OK corral to learn about the true history behind the Old West. This town still
had its authentic western atmosphere with local vendors dressed in costumes,
horse carriages and quint souvenir shops.
On day three, we were in Yuma
County, exploring and learning about the agricultural aspects of Arizona. We
saw the Colorado River that separates California and Arizona. We drove through
California for 5 minutes. At least I can say I have been to Cali! Even though
it was for 5 minutes. Our adventure continued to the Yuma County’s water
distribution center, where we learned about the importance of water irrigation and
how farmers have to order water. I thought this was strange because in Florida,
we get water from our aquifers and we never really have to worry about turning
the faucet on and water not flowing out. I never imagined having to order water
in advance just to water the produce. Afterwards, we looked at an entry point
between the United States and Mexico, in San Luis, Yuma. Here, we had another
chance to see the México border
and how workers travel back and forth each day to work in Arizona fields then
make their way back home to Mexico. Talk about time consuming! But the workers
prefer it this way.
A few minutes north of the
water distribution center, we got a first hand look at what happens in food processing
plants from start to finish, how huge and labor intensive cattle farmer and feedlots
are, and the lush field of fruits and vegetables. We even ate broccoli and
carrots directly from the field to our mouths. Absolutely delicious! It was so
fresh and you could taste all the nutrients. On top of all this, Arizona had some really good eats
like IN-and-OUT burgers and Jack in the Box. These fast food diners aren’t common
on the East coast; so eating at these places was a treat for all of us “East
coast ambassadors”.
Day four, we ventured to
Flagstaff, where it was cold as the North Pole! Well, at least to me it was!
Flagstaff was -8 DEGREES!!! I have never in all of my 21 years experienced
below 19-degree weather, let alone temperatures below zero! I was completely
out of my element. Needless to say, I was dressed like an Eskimo the next
morning, freezing but excited about seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the
World!
After several hours of
driving, we arrived at our final destination…the Grand Canyon aka the BIG
HOLE!!! It looked exactly how I saw it in movies, but this time I was really
there. And of course there was snow! Tons and tons of white, soft, powdery snow
everywhere, just above the sculptured depths of the vast canyon. I took a brave
step and made my first official snow angel! This trip kept getting better and
better!
Although this trip was only
for a few days, the wealth of knowledge we gained and great friendships we
built in that such a short time was complied into many years of rich history
and culture. I have a deeper appreciation for agriculture and a better
understanding of why I am a CALS student and an Ambassador. Without
agriculture, we are unable to sustain human life. I can honestly say that this
was one of the best experiences I have been blessed to be apart of. I encourage
anyone who is looking to explore new places, to try and get the “non-touristy”
experience and spend a few days to absorb the culture and do what the locals
do! This trip has inspired me to visit more places in Florida. I want to know
more about what Florida has to offer and the great history behind La Florida.
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| Shornare Brown Class: Senior Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida (Born in Jamaica) Major: Family, Youth and Community Sciences Minor: Food Science Involvement: Word Up College Ministry, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity Hobbies: Loves to cook and dance After College: Attend Pharmacy School to become a Clinical Pharmacist |
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