Magherafelt student Maeve Owens has returned from a four-month study placement at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States, part of a programme that this year will send its 100th participant. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and MSU have run the exchange for more than three decades.

Owens, who is studying BSc (Hons) Food Business Management at CAFRE, said she was drawn to the programme after her sister took part in a similar US study scheme. She said the teaching methods at MSU were different from those at CAFRE, with a greater emphasis on continuous assessment compared to final exams.

During her time abroad she took a module on fisheries and wildlife, prompted by her previous work with the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Cooperative Society in Toome. She said the module covered water quality and biodiversity. At the end of her semester, MSU held a graduation ceremony for international students and awarded certificates.

She described the campus as extensive, covering five square miles and serving more than 50,000 students. The university has eight sports stadiums, with the football stadium holding around 75,000 people. Home games involved tailgating, where families gathered for picnics in the car parks.

Owens said she made friends with students from Germany and travelled with them to the Great Lakes, Chicago, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona and Puerto Rico. One challenge was spending her 21st birthday without her twin sister and family, though new friends helped her celebrate. She said the experience made her more independent and taught her to manage disruptions such as cancelled flights.

The CAFRE bursary covered her flights, accommodation and food. She encouraged others to apply, saying she believed it was a valuable opportunity.

To mark the 100th student milestone, CAFRE is hosting a reunion garden party at Greenmount Campus on Saturday 13 June during Open Farm Weekend. The event, which starts at 3pm, invites all past and current exchange students and their families for afternoon tea. Booking details are available on the CAFRE website.