Hardin Northern 4-H member Mariann Woodruff recently joined 15 Ohio youth on a vital international journey to Greece, intensifying cross-cultural learning and leadership development from April 20–30. This urgent Ohio 4-H Global Immersion Project took place primarily in Thessaloniki at the historic American Farm School, a renowned institution dedicated to agricultural education and experiential leadership training.
The delegation, accompanied by key Ohio 4-H leaders including assistant professor Steve Brady, Extension specialist Theresa Ferrari, and program manager Margo Overholt Seckel, engaged in a packed schedule of hands-on agriculture, sustainability education, and intense cultural exchanges. The group’s mission was clear: develop leadership skills while deeply immersing in Greece’s rich agricultural and cultural systems during this fast-moving ten-day program.
Youth Lead Critical Cross-Cultural Service and Learning in Greece
Participants tackled real-world challenges through educational tours of local farms, food and sensory experiences, and dialogue-based discussions on sustainability and community life in Greece. Mariann and her peers expanded their global perspective by visiting landmarks such as the iconic Meteora monasteries and attending a regional youth music festival in Xanthi.
A central moment of the trip unfolded in the village of Pleteno, where the group connected with a social cooperative of Pomak women, a Muslim minority community in northern Greece. This unprecedented cultural immersion allowed Ohio teens to witness firsthand traditional crafts and lifestyles few Americans experience, boosting urgent cross-cultural understanding.
Ohio Teens Give Back by Leading Greek Youth Programs
Bringing global service home, the Ohio teens led interactive team-building and leadership sessions for more than 100 Greek fifth- and seventh-grade students, sharpening vital communication and leadership skills on both sides. This service component reinforces the program’s emphasis on youth empowerment and cultural diplomacy as immediate priorities.
“This experience is shaping the next generation of leaders with a clear understanding of global agriculture, service, and sustainability,” said Margo Overholt Seckel, program manager for Ohio 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways.
Supported by the Ohio 4-H Foundation and generous donors, the project represents not just an educational trip but a strategic investment in today’s youth to build resilient, global-ready communities. Ohio 4-H encourages supporters to contribute to the International Travel Support Fund at ohio4h.org/give-now to sustain these critical international opportunities.
This intense global immersion is a timely reminder of the power of youth-driven leadership and service in an interconnected world. As Mariann and her peers return home, their experiences in Greece will accelerate ongoing efforts to integrate global awareness into local community leadership—the heart of 4-H’s mission nationwide.
Montana readers and US audiences alike find urgent relevance in this story as the future of agriculture and leadership depends on such immersive learning experiences bridging continents and cultures right now.
