Farm Visit with the Hopkins Farmers Cooperative
Author: Brady Voss | Majors: Finance, Marketing | Semester: Summer 2023
Hey everyone! My name is Brady Voss, and I am a current senior, double majoring in finance and marketing with a minor in economics. This summer, I had the opportunity to start my research while interning abroad with Peacework and the Ministry of Agriculture in Belize. Our research consisted of three main projects: tracking the cost of production of habanero peppers, writing business plans for local cooperatives, and issuing surveys to collect data regarding market awareness of dragon fruit. Each of these projects was intended to assist the Ministry of Agriculture in gathering data and provided tremendous support towards accomplishing their research goals.
Regarding our trip, I was blessed to spend eight weeks living abroad in the Stann Creek District in Dangriga, Belize with nine other University of Arkansas students. Living in Dangriga was a challenging experience that presented many difficulties and setbacks, but I am incredibly grateful for the time I spent abroad and the ways it pushed me to grow. After studying abroad last summer in Italy and spending a week in Panama on a service trip, I was eager for another opportunity to leave the country. Thankfully, Belize was the perfect chance to start my research and included projects I was genuinely interested in, and it also provided guidance from a professor whom I trusted would support me in any way possible.
Traveling to Belize allowed me to gain hands-on, person-to-person experience that is ultimately the foundation for my research and thesis. Prior to landing in the country, the only form of information that I was able to obtain was from varying online resources. However, after numerous interactions with farmers on their land or consumers in the market, I have gathered enough research to formulate a thorough thesis this upcoming year. Without my trip to Belize, it would not have been possible to acquire the necessary information and knowledge needed to properly research the projects. Now, I will be in a much better position upon my arrival back in the States to feasibly support my travel research.
Additionally, this trip provided ample opportunity for professional development and growth. Learning how to effectively coordinate with our supervisor, conduct business meetings and site visits, and present business plans to cooperatives were all situations to progress in our professional capabilities. Also, we were able to meet with several expert-level farmers which provided us with much insight into the production process and the reality of rising costs in the production of habaneros.
Looking past Belize, the next step for me is to prepare for an economic colloquium trip to Vermont called “Capitaf”, where we will discuss Milton Friedman’s book “Free to Choose” and the implications of capitalism. Alongside this, I will also begin research for my proposal paper for a Model United Nations trip to Germany in the fall and start formulating the foundation for my thesis in the spring. Regarding careers, the doors are still open as to which route I will pursue post-graduation, but I am confident in the direction I am being led and trust in the foundation that I have been equipped with thus far.