Whenever I was applying I knew that Queen’s offered the chance to take a year out and that the opportunity for international work placements was there and that was something that I definitely wanted to take on board.

 

My time in New Zealand

I pretty much planned the New Zealand one kind of a bit with the Lions rugby tour as well. I started into the work kind of after that so I got accommodation provided and I actually was living with another student in the house who was there at the same time as me, so that was good.

Normal day probably like a 5:00/5:30am start to maybe 5:00pm at night - loads of time for lunch and breakfast. I was just general farm production.

 

My time in America

The American one, it was a whole lot different. It was a host family. They provided for you so I got all my accommodation and food included. I started off in the calf and heifer rearing and also helped out in the milk production role, and breeding. I also got a new skill of artificial insemination which was pretty interesting to do and then also crop husbandry.

I was able to link pretty much all I've studied and applied it and I also learned a lot more on top of what I would have learned in the class. I also got a chance to meet with many industry people within the company. I was out with a nutritionist and I was in meetings with directors, meeting about buying a new product.  I would say I probably learned mostly business knowledge. I definitely found that I had an interest in the business and economics of Agriculture.

 

I feel as if I've got a bit more confident in myself. I feel as if I got more of an idea of how different countries do things which is great. I also got a chance to travel and then enjoy new cultures and meet new friends, new contacts - it was probably the best year of my life.

 

Joshua Thompson

BSc Agricultural Technology