Today, we visited a world-renowned thoroughbred horse farm, Haras Cerro Punta. the farm is over 100 acres and provides X-rays, gynecology, fertility work, and boarding. The most expensive horse ever sold here was Fusaichi Pegasus at 70 million dollars!

Author: Audrey Dykes | Major: Animal Science | Semester: Spring Break 2024

I am Audrey Dykes, an animal science (pre-professional) student with a minor in agribusiness in the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences. The trip that I was on was the 2024 Comparative Studies in Panamanian and US Agricultural Practices during Spring Break! I chose this program because it would provide me vast experiences that I would have never gotten anywhere else. I wanted to study outside of the US to broaden my horizons and have the opportunity to see nature and wildlife unlike anything in my home country. Here, there are more species of birds than the United States and Canada combined, and that was just a taste of the kind of animals we would come across on the trip. I also wanted to meet new people within Bumpers College and share cool experiences like this together. My instructors, Dr. Kathi Jogan and Dr. Ken Coffey allowed us to have class just about anywhere in the country. Most of our “classes” were on the bus going to and from farms and cities. The classes allowed time for discussion amongst peers to see the various viewpoints on the agricultural practices of the natives of Panama. We talked about the things that we learned and liked, but we also mentioned some of the things that we did not agree with. This differs from the University of Arkansas because at school, we go to lecture and maybe lab, but there, both of those were combined. Everything that we did was very tactile. We could physically touch, smell, and see the work that was being done for agriculture in Panama. Farmers and ranchers explained how they had to use their resources smartly due to the hot climate and differing cultures. Additionally, the food in Panama was amazing with my favorite thing being the pineapple. Honestly, it was the best pineapple that I have ever had in my life with it being directly from the ground and was cut freshly into the palm of my hand. We also had the chance to visit “Old-Town Panama” in which some of the oldest cathedrals were located, some even dating back to 1675. One of the coolest things about the cathedrals was that when the pirates tried to invade Panama back in the late 1600s, the natives covered the gold within the cathedral with mud so the pirates would not steal it. To this day, that is why we still get to enjoy the golden architecture because it was protected all those years ago. Most of the days, we would wake up early, hop on the bus, and go to various sites before ending the day with a nice dinner and a sunset. If I could recommend anything to future students, I would say to live life to the fullest while on the trip wherever you may go. Say “yes” to things, go do something spontaneous, and make lasting memories with the people on your trip. I wish I had known that the other people on the trip were in the same boat as I. Most had never been this far away from home, and it was fun to meet other people with the same interests. Finally, the first thing I will do when I get home is take a long hot shower!