Millbrook Rotary was one of the sponsors of a 4-H trip to Austria to learn about farming practices there. Faith Schulz reported to Rotary on the trip.
Amazing little Faith Schulz gave us a visual tour of her recent trip to Austria with the 4-H Club. With 4-H raising $40K for the trip (how’s that for fundraising Rotarians!). The group paid for this trip and travel to other speaking engagements. Travelling to Vienna and Graz and rural farms in between, Faith was amazed by the white horses at the Spanish Riding School. She followed a hectic schedule travelling to poultry, dairy, alpaca and horse retirement farms. Faith experienced the various ways Austrian farmers practice their trade. Noting some highly technical equipment farmers used for monitoring the livestock, Faith decided to pass on the horse milk. The practice of dual farming (multiple breeds of animals) her host family’s youngest son, Sebastian, finally accepted her when he introduced her to his baby pet rabbit. Due to a recent reversal of legislation that banned goat horn burning, you will see some goats now sporting a healthy set of horns. The education system in Austria supports a system of going from elementary school to trade schools, teaching dairy, beekeeping, juice production, hospitality, carpentry, auto mechanics, butchery and cheese production. Faith has an upcoming presentation in Poughkeepsie and more upstate towns. Her advice for travelers is to prepare packing ahead and be ready for long days on the road. (per Tom Lynch)