The 2017 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is currently accepting applications from high school seniors or college freshmen who are passionate about agriculture and are interested in representing Kansas in a week-long exchange program in late November 2017.

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.  This program will take place November 20-24, 2017.

“The Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is a tremendous opportunity for students who are interested in agriculture,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, international trade director for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “Students are able to return from Taiwan with a broader understanding of international agriculture and the role that exports play in their local communities.”

Exports play an important role in Kansas agriculture. According to Euromonitor, Kansas exported nearly $101 million in agricultural goods to Taiwan in 2016, including beef, oil seeds, cereal grains and wheat flour.  Globally, exports of agricultural products contributed almost $3.5 billion to the Kansas economy in 2016.

Three students will be selected to represent Kansas. 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 the beginning of the trip;
• Have a strong Kansas agricultural background;
• Have a valid U.S. passport by time of exchange program selection; and
• Be able and willing to pay for airfare costs (approximately $1,400).