Tyson Gehrke of Fennimore spent the start of 2026 trading the snowy Midwest for the agricultural landscape of Spain. As part of the National FFA’s International Leadership Seminar, Gehrke joined more than 70 current and former state officers for an 11-day deep dive into global food systems and cultural competency.
For Gehrke, a former Wisconsin State FFA officer and current Iowa State University student, the trip was a lesson in contrast.
“One of the main things that really interested me is being from Southwest Wisconsin, you drive in the countryside, and you’ll see corn and soybeans being grown in the field. While in Spain… you’ll see olive and citrus trees, that’s their corn and soybeans,” he says.
The group also studied the European Union’s rigorous standards on food additives and livestock hormones.
The seminar pushed participants to navigate “growing pains” through daily cultural reflections and language barriers. Gehrke notes that the trip fundamentally shifted his perspective on how to interact with the broader world. He returned with a goal to learn conversational Spanish to better support those who may feel out of place in his own community.
Now double-majoring in agricultural business and international agriculture, Gehrke plans to take his findings back to the private sector. He heads to Australia in March to continue his global studies, with the ultimate goal of returning to Wisconsin to serve local farmers with a strong understanding of international trade and policy.
