For 2026 outbound fellows Hillary Coleman and John Krohn, traveling to Zimbabwe and Rwanda was more than an international trip. It was an opportunity to learn alongside farmers, entrepreneurs and community leaders while advancing Michigan State University’s mission to share agricultural knowledge across borders.

Five participants in the Michigan State University Professional Fellows Program smile while seated around a wooden table at an open-air restaurant during the fellowship exchange. — Outbound fellows Hillary Coleman and John Krohn share a meal with host fellows during the Michigan State University U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program exchange. Photo courtesy of John Krohn.

Despite coming from different professional backgrounds, both returned home with the same conclusion: Some of agriculture’s most valuable lessons come from sharing ideas across borders.

Since 2017, MSU has partnered with universities in Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to implement the Professional Fellows Program. The initiative connects emerging agricultural leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators to strengthen agribusiness, support women’s economic empowerment and build long-term partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Two women pet a large brown cow with long, curved horns at the King’s Palace Museum in Rwanda. — During a visit to the King’s Palace Museum in Rwanda, Coleman, left, and another visitor pet one of the museum’s royal cows. Photo courtesy of Hillary Coleman.

As part of the ongoing exchange, Coleman, an urban farmer and manager of Hunter Park GardenHouse at Allen Neighborhood Center in Lansing, and Krohn, a farmland preservation specialist with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, participated in the reciprocal exchange component of the U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program administered by MSU.

African fellows complete professional placements with Michigan organizations before U.S. participants travel abroad to continue the exchange, often creating meaningful and long-term relationships.

For Coleman, the experience reinforced an important lesson: Innovation does not always require more technology.

“I was hoping to learn the simple practices that we don’t utilize in America,” Coleman said. “They’re interested in our technology, but we were there trying to learn from the simple ways they farm. Sometimes that’s really what we’re missing.”

Ankole cattle, known for their distinctive long horns, walk through a livestock area during a visit by participants in Michigan State University's U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program. — Ankole cattle, known for their distinctive long horns, walk through a livestock area. Photo courtesy of Hillary Coleman.

Learning from the land

A scenic view of rolling green hills covered with farms, trees and scattered homes under a partly cloudy sky. The rural agricultural landscape features cultivated fields stretching across the hillsides. — Rolling hills dotted with farms and small communities illustrate the agricultural landscape. Photo courtesy of John Krohn.

Throughout the trip, both fellows observed how farmers make the most of available resources while caring for the land.

Coleman was inspired by entrepreneurs who built thriving agricultural businesses using locally available materials.

“When I visited a mushroom farm, they used every piece of what they had to build the infrastructure they needed,” she said. “They used every resource available to make their business successful. We don’t do enough of that here.”

She said the experience reaffirmed that successful farming does not require excessive machinery or chemicals.

Banana trees and several other crops grow together in a densely planted garden beside a house in Rwanda. — During her visit to Rwanda, Coleman observed intercropping, the practice of growing two or more crops together in the same area. Courtesy of Hillary Coleman.

“Keeping it simple is the way to grow a successful garden or farm,” Coleman said. “Taking care of the land while we’re farming on it is what’s important.”

Krohn found himself equally impressed, particularly by Rwanda’s approach to land use.

“We talk about ‘food, not lawns’ in the United States. That’s really how they live,” he said, referring to the idea of replacing resource-heavy ornamental grass with edible, sustainable ecosystems.

He noted that Rwanda’s climate and high population density encourage residents to grow a wide variety of food throughout the year.

“As much as some things were different, a lot of things about growing food are just the same everywhere,” Krohn said. “We really had a lot of common ground to talk about when we talked to farmers there.”

Community creates resilience

While agricultural techniques varied from country to country, both participants said the strongest lesson centered on community.

Coleman recalled visiting the farm of a former professional fellow who had previously completed an exchange at Allen Neighborhood Center.

“The welcome from the community was so warm,” she said. “They were just so excited for us to be there. It made me feel at home.”

Krohn saw that same sense of shared responsibility while visiting community gardens and farms.

“There would be a lot of people working together on a community plot,” he said. “That’s something we could certainly do here. We have the space. It’s really about creating the cultural interest in growing food together.”

Ideas that travel home

A hand holds a bottle of Skai Rwandan-style chili sauce in front of green vegetation and banana trees in Rwanda. — During a visit to Skai Foods in Rwanda, Coleman holds a bottle of the company’s Rwandan-style chili sauce. Owned by Soraya Vuningoma, Skai Foods produces chili sauces and oils inspired by local flavors using locally sourced habanero peppers. Courtesy of Hillary Coleman.

The exchange also introduced participants to practical innovations they hope to explore in Michigan.

Coleman plans to continue encouraging gardeners to maximize available resources and strengthen community partnerships.

Krohn was particularly interested in systems that use black soldier fly larvae to compost food waste while producing feed for chickens.

Both said one of the greatest benefits of the program is the opportunity to build lasting professional relationships.

As a global land-grant university, MSU continues to foster those connections by bringing together agricultural professionals, entrepreneurs and community organizations from across continents. Through reciprocal exchanges, fellows build networks that support innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture long after the fellowship concludes.

For Coleman, the experience demonstrated that agriculture is ultimately about people.

“We come back with so many resources and connections,” she said. “Those relationships continue, and that’s what makes programs like this so valuable.”

“It was really wonderful to be reminded how similar people everywhere are,” Krohn said. “Everybody is focused on their families, their communities and making things better.”

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