Saline County People to People Tour

Friday, May 4, 2012

By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News

For nearly a half century People to People International has offered travel opportunities to students, educators and professionals. The program conducts visits throughout all seven continents, and for the past several months, MSDC's Bill Riggins has worked to put Saline County on the People to People International destination map. The tour started at Marshall and Fenner Farms and then transitioned to MidMissouri Energy, Van Meter State Park, Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum and Missouri Valley College Rodeo.

Charlie Cheng takes a picture of the cattle at Marshall and Fenner Farms. Cheng captured many of People to People tour's moments with his camera.
Odontuya Munikbayar, left, pets a horse at Missouri Valley College's horse dormitories. Later, one of the rodeo girls taught her to feed the animals clover.
Bill Jarvis and Wanita examine the Marshall and Fenner Farms' catalog during a farm tutorial on Thursday, May 13.
Brian Marshall, right, of Marshall and Fenner Farms explains artificial insemination to a small crowd of People to People delegates on Thursday, May 3. Here, he holds up an artificial insemination gun for the delegates to see.

Todd Marshall, right, demonstrates how farmers use artificial insemination to impregnate their cows. His brother, Brian Marshall, center shows Anita Manuel, left, how to load the artificial insemination gun.
Todd Marshall, far right, speaks with Charlie Cheng, left of Marshall, as he leads a group of People to People delegates through Marshall and Fenner Farms.
Bill Jarvis, left, Mary Eisenhower, and another delegate examine the cattle feed Todd Marshall, right, feeds his cows. Marshall explains that his cattle eat better than he does, noting their diet is completely balanced.
Odontuya Munikbayar examines a small yellow clover she found wedged in between the gravel at Marshall and Fenner Farms.
Mardoche Sidor recorded most of the afternoon's tour on his iPhone. Here, he records the Marshall and Fenner planter.
Anita Manuel shimmies up the side of the Marshall and Fenner Farms combine during the Saline County People to People tour on Thursday, May 3.
During the tour of Saline County, the People to People delegates stopped at the Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum.
Delegates from People to People International witnessed a demonstration by the MVC rodeo team during a tour of Saline County on Thursday, May 3.
Olga Ganzen, right, waits for an MVC rodeo student, left, to jump on the bull simulator.
At the MVC rodeo practice grounds, the People to People delegates met with a variety of Saline Countians.