Ohio Students Return from Summer Abroad with New Knowledge of Aquaculture

The Cleveland-based Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative of The Negev Foundation  recently sponsored a 12-week, agricultural student exchange program that placed two students from Hocking College, Ohio on a Kibbutz in northern Israel to study the region’s  exemplary aquaculture methods. The students, Jeff Cavendar and Joseph (Chip) Wendt, are both working on degrees in Fish Management and Aquaculture Sciences at Hocking College, and have received academic credit for their participation in this pilot program.

According to Dr. Sarah Horowitz, program director for the Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative, the student exchange program is one of several projects designed to enhance agricultural ties between Ohio and Israel. “Our goal is to learn from each other,” she says. “This program gave Jeff and Chip the opportunity to study aquaculture techniques in Israel, a country that is recognized as one of the foremost leaders in this field, and to share what they’ve learned at Hocking College with their Israeli colleagues.”

During their stay on Kibbutz Reshafim, Cavendar and Wendt worked in nearby fisheries, where they studied tilapia, grey mullet, and several different species of carp. The students began their work day early, at 5 a.m., to combat the extreme summer heat, but harvesting the fish and moving them from pond to pond as needed proved to be a laborious process.

“The work on the Kibbutz was very strenuous, but I am proud of myself for taking on such a monumental task and sticking with it,” says Wendt. “This trip truly was the greatest experience of my life.”

Lloyd Wright, a professor of fish management and aquaculture at Hocking College, has observed that both Cavendar and Wendt returned from Israel with a renewed enthusiasm for their studies. In May 2006, Wright visited Israel to familiarize himself with the region’s aquaculture program and develop a list of goals for the students to accomplish during their internship abroad.

“I think that the trip was personally, as well as professionally, rewarding for Jeff and Chip,” Wright says. “The knowledge they’ve gained has given them an experiential advantage that will help them become better fisheries professionals in the long run.” 

But the program wasn’t all work and no play – the students were given plenty of time to travel and explore the country before returning to Ohio. Cavendar spent his free time in nearby Bet She’an, a city in Israel’s North District, as well as a day exploring the old city in Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem was amazing,” says Cavendar. “The old city is simply beautiful, and so full of history. It was an amazing experience. The whole trip was an amazing experience.  I learned so much about Israel’s culture and people, as well as the country’s aquaculture methods – all of which will help me in my life and in my studies. I hope the program will continue for many years, and that other students will be able to benefit from the opportunities it offers.”

According to Sam Hoenig, president of The Negev Foundation, the aquaculture exchange program is an opportunity for everyone to reap long-term benefits. “This is a good and ambitious program,” he says. “Hopefully it will be the first of many opportunities for young people to share what they’ve learned with others.”

Based on the success of the first Israel agricultural student exchange program, The Negev Foundation is planning two other aquaculture exchanges – one in the spring and another in the summer of 2007. The foundation also hopes to expand the program to include other agricultural fields.

The Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative was established in 2002 and is funded by a special Federal grant. It is dedicated to improving agricultural trade and research and development ties between Ohio and Israel by working with government, academic, and business entities and growers in both regions.  The objective of this initiative is to foster greater collaboration between Ohio and Israeli government and research institutions, farmers, and companies; develop joint research and development educational activities; identify agribusiness ventures based on new technologies; introduce potential investors; and expand commercial ties and market access in both regions.  Several projects are currently being pursued, and others are in different stages of development.

The Negev Foundation (www.negev.org) is a Cleveland-based, non-profit organization dedicated to insuring Israel’s future through the development of the Negev Desert region in Israel.  The Foundation oversees numerous international projects involving joint research and development programs, agritechnology, and trade.

For more information, or to arrange for a press interview, please contact Sarah Horowitz, Program Director, Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative of The Negev Foundation, at (216) 691-9997 or sarah@negev.org.

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