On August 12th with red dirt stained sandals, I returned to Ontario from Prince Edward Island.  I did so very reluctantly, because I had just had an awesome experience on JFAO exchange.  A few factors made my exchange absolutely incredible.  First of all, everyone I met was extremely friendly and eager to show me their province and farm.  Secondly, it was absolutely gorgeous in PEI.  And finally, I had numerous opportunities to experience many “firsts”.

Although I did not leave the country, I was immersed in a different culture.  Islanders are really laid back and always up for having a good time.  I was surprised but very glad about returning from exchange actually rested.  The schedule that the Young Farmers of PEI planned for me was a good balance of activity and down time.  I was warmly welcomed at the airport by my host Maria Smith the president of the Young Farmers organization.  I stayed the entirety of my exchange on her family’s swine farm with the exception of the last night when I stayed with Amy Bysterveldt and her husband Jeff.   Amy is the treasurer of the PEI YF.  Other Young Farmer members took turns touring me around most days of the exchange....

I expected similarities between Ontario and PEI.  However, I never anticipated some of the events of the first day.  Shortly after meeting each other, Maria and I realized that I had already met her older sister, who now lives in Ontario.  Later, I saw my cousin because she was temporarily working and living at the same farm that Maria worked at.  By the end of the first day, I had to agree with the cliché: it’s a small world!

The second and subsequent days offered up some more diverse opportunities.  I had the pleasure of spending a couple afternoons hanging out at the North Rustico beach.  There I saw jellyfish and lots of them for the first time.  In the “Crick” (what locals call North Rustico,) I also enjoyed a traditional lobster supper and an evening with locals at the Lion’s Club. I also had the opportunity to attend the College of Piping’s Highland Storm show in Summerside.  It was an energy filled production of Celtic music and dance. Living in Eastern Ontario, I am accustomed to having the ability to be in 2 provinces in one day but never 3, which is what I experienced one day during exchange.  The trip began with a drive across the impressive Confederation Bridge and then a drive down through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to the ferry. I apparently had a true islander experience that day; driving quickly to get to the ferry but yet not making it.  Waiting for the ferry was worth it because on the ride across the ocean I saw a seal, a whale and dolphins for the first time.  A Young Farmer gathering was another highlight of my exchange.  We began with deep sea fishing followed by a feast which included lots of seafood.  I got to eat a raw oyster for the first time...salty goodness!  Nearing the end of my exchange, I was taken to North Cape – the most Westerly point of PEI- where I saw innumerable wind turbines as well as the point where the North and South tides meet.  Before going to the airport, I had a chance to tour around the downtown core of Charlottetown.  Driving to all these attractions was awesome in itself.  The landscape is stunning.  I don’t think it is possible to take a bad photo in the province.  I was very happy to have had so many great people touring me around to such a variety of attractions.

Farm tours also made up a part of my exchange.  I saw mostly dairy farms, of a wide variety of style and scale.  Generally, I was struck by the importance PEI dairy farmers place on genetics.   Although I returned home before Old Home Week (PEI’s exhibition), I did get a sneak peak on my last night when I helped with set up for the dairy show.  Of course potato farms were also plentiful in PEI.  I visited both small scale and industrial scale potato fields.  I was quite interested to learn about the potato marketing system and the use of unsellable spuds as beef cattle feed.  Not actually a farmer myself the PEI Young Farmers didn’t plan too many farm tours.  However, I did learn a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the farms I visited.

Before leaving on exchange, many people questioned why I would choose PEI over the many other countries of which I could have chosen to go on exchange to.   I partly agreed with them as I had vacationed in PEI previously.  However, I knew I wanted to go on Junior Farmer exchange, but work commitments forced the need for an exchange short in duration.  To all those who wondered, I must say I have absolutely no regrets with my choice.  I have met people who I will definitely keep in touch with and I am already planning my return trip to PEI.  I would highly encourage others to apply for exchange because it is guaranteed to be the source of some fabulous memories.