In fall of 2024, I saw a flyer for an experience I’d never heard of before: the Ohio 4-H’s Global Immersion Project. The promise of opportunities to learn about agronomy, animal science, and more while visiting Greece instantly caught my attention. I spoke to my county’s extension agent, who nominated me to attend, and then I completed a video application. To my absolute delight, I was one of 16 Ohio 4-H teens selected to travel across the globe, the second group of 4-H teens to visit Greece.
In March 2025, we set off. The long journey from Ohio to Thessaloniki was exhausting, but upon arriving at the American Farm School, we were warmly welcomed by Greek students. Despite our jet lag, they quickly had us learning both traditional and modern dances after dinner.
The American Farm School (AFS) was established following World War I to provide a home for orphaned boys. There, the boys learned in traditional classrooms and farm fields, providing them the opportunity to work in a trade following their graduation. Over the years, the school has evolved to include an olive grove, a vineyard, a dairy farm, a poultry farm, and even a snail farm. Now, local students of all ages can attend the school for regular subjects, and high school students can take agricultural courses. A highlight for many of us from Ohio was seeing a kindergarten classroom that integrated gardening into class time.
The other Ohio teens and I spent most of our time living among the AFS students and the students at the adjacent Perrotis College. On campus, we ate traditional Greek food, listened to lectures by the professors, participated in olive oil and cheese tastings, and worked in the olive grove and vineyard. Additionally, we befriended Greek students our age, playing games and sports, sharing dances, and enjoying music. Despite our different cultures, both groups of teens often found more in common than anything else; the Greek students often knew enough English to get the message across, and we Americans found ourselves picking up enough Greek to fill in the rest.
On our first full day off-campus, my group took a tour of Thessaloniki, complete with a boat ride on the Mediterranean and a cooking class. The next day, we visited a farmers market, where we were encouraged to talk with vendors about the process of growing or producing their products. We left the country carrying much more than we arrived with!
Unfortunately, our trip off campus marked the end of our time in Greece. Saying farewell to my new friends was bittersweet, but the experience left a lasting impression on me. I gained a valuable international perspective, new friendships, and the confidence to pursue future global opportunities. This journey expanded my understanding of agriculture and culture, encouraging me and others to pursue new experiences and personal growth.
Youth in Ag Spotlight: Bull Rider Jack Patterson
A northeast Ohio native, Jack Patterson grew up on his family’s farm, where he was exposed to the value of hard work from a young age. When Jack first spotted an advertisement for a one-day rodeo school a little over a year and a half ago, he knew he needed to try it. After a bit of convincing, his parents allowed him to attend, and Jack was hooked. At Jack’s first bull-riding competition, a bull named 22-Jump Street bucked him off and stepped on his ankle and shoulder. Redemption came a couple of months later when Jack drew 22-Jump Street again; he stayed on for the full eight seconds, achieving his best ride at that point.
During winter, Jack competes in bull riding whenever there’s a rodeo around. In the busy summer season, he competes almost every weekend. He says his favorite part is just getting the opportunity to ride – riding bulls is one of his favorite things he’s ever done.
While Jack can occasionally get nervous before a rodeo, he avoids having any pre-ride ritual. “If you’re relying on something, it can be really easy not to have it before a ride, and I don’t want to be unprepared when that happens,” he says. One thing Jack does to set himself up for success is to watch famous bull riders to emulate their form, drawing inspiration from cowboys, such as Justin McBride and Lane Frost.
At 17, Jack plans to pursue membership in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, with the goal of eventually competing in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He’s also interested in studying animal science at college with a minor in agricultural communications. Outside rodeo practice, Jack participates in cow sorting and horse training, and he’s a member of the Agriculture and Animal Science Committee for the Ohio 4-H Team Leadership Council. He shares updates on Instagram at @JackPatt1204.
Originally published in the May/June 2026 issue of Grit magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
