Class VI of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program recently returned from its international study experience in Morocco
From Feb. 19-29, MARL members enjoyed a culture-broadening experience. They observed Muslim religious practices, dined on deliciously spiced Moroccan foods, and toured historical sites, ag research centers and farms. Throughout their adventure, they were graciously welcomed onto farms and in homes, and encouraged to return.
In Morocco, Class VI visited a donkey veterinary hospital and the historic medina in Fez; learned about ag research (olive trees and oil) and visited farms near Meknes; enjoyed dinner at the home of U.S. Ambassador Sam and Sylvia Kaplan, also from Minnesota, in the capital city of Rabat; visited the U.S. Embassy in Rabat; toured a poverty-stricken area of Kenitra and visited an after-school enrichment program for students and mothers; and toured a feedlot/dairy cooperative and dairy farm near Taroudant.
Class VI is comprised of 32 professionals from across the state. Two-thirds of the participants are active in farming and one-third work in ag-related industries, rural businesses and rural communities. Class VI began its 18-month program in November 2010 with an orientation seminar in St. Cloud. Since then, it has met in Marshall, St. Paul, Washington, D.C., Itasca, Duluth, Moorhead, Rochester and Windom. Each location features leadership and regional studies.
The MARL program is led by a board of directors that represent interests of the agricultural sectors and rural communities in Minnesota. The board partners with the U-M Extension and Southwest Minnesota State University to deliver the program.
Applications are currently being accepted for Class VII and interviews will be scheduled in April.
For more information, please visit www.MARLprogram.org
Editor's note: Paula Mohr, editor of The Farmer, is a member of MARL Class VI.
Group shot.
Class VI posed for a quick photo at the Atlas Corp. Studios, a movie set in Ouarzazate built in 1983. Numerous U.S. movies were filmed here, including "Jewel of The Nile" and "Gladiator."
A feedlot is a feedlot.
Copag, a large dairy co-op that is comparable to Land O' Lakes in Minnesota, has about 14,000 farmer-members and 70 small co-ops associated with it. They process members' milk into various products; work with farmers to produce high-quality milk; operate a feedlot with about 5,000 bulls; and raise members' heifers. The co-op also processes orange juice.
Everyday market day.
Markets, called souqs, are in every Moroccan city. Here, a vendor in Rabat, the capital city, offers a tasty bovine head and selected portions of a cows' four stomachs.
Special honor.
MARL executive director Dan Hoffman presents a special gift to U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Sam Kaplan and his wife Sylvia. The Kaplans, who are from the Twin Cities, hosted Class VI for supper one evening. Sylvia, once a restaurant owner in Minneapolis, made homemade soups for the visitors.
Family farm.
The family of Aziz Zineanabidine (left) and his cousin Jawad Mamou (right), near Meknes farms about 800 hectares of small grains and olive, almond, pear and peach trees. They also have about 1,000 sheep and 80 cows. When they bought the farm in 1969, the land was planted with grapes to produce wine. However, they took out the grapevines since they are Muslim and they do not drink alcohol. Aziz did his graduate study on precision ag at the University of California-Davis.
Precious water.
Morocco is dealing with a drought now, and like parts of Minnesota, could use some rain to recharge the soil. On Aziz's family farm, they drilled 33 wells and found no underground water. They built a basin one hectare in size to collect and hold water. This is a view from atop a farm building, looking out over the countryside. The dry weather took a toll on the farm's trees. Only 7 hectares of almonds are left after the drought.
Arid area.
Driving from Ouarzazate to Agadir, the tour bus crossed through the Atlas Mountain range. The arid region reminded one of driving across the southwestern U.S.