Jesse Cronic first developed an interest in agriculture as a child, growing up with family members who worked in the poultry industry. When he came to the University of Georgia, continuing in that direction felt natural, so he enrolled in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Immersed in agribusiness and culture

In April, Cronic — now a third-year agricultural and applied economics student — was invited to apply for the Future Agriculture Leaders Delegation to China, a program organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the U.S. Heartland China Association. The delegation aims to promote dialogue on trade, cultural exchange and the strategic importance of the Chinese market for U.S. agriculture. A month later, Cronic was on a 14-hour flight to Beijing.

He and about 20 other students from universities in nearby states spent eight days traveling through Beijing and Zhengzhou in an immersive exploration of Chinese agribusiness and culture.

Exploring China’s food systems and global trade connections

Meeting with foreign agricultural attachés living in China and representatives from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation was one of the most impactful parts of the trip, Cronic said. He learned about the culture of agriculture and business in China, including the country’s emphasis on self-sustainability. While China depends on imports from the U.S. and Brazil for soybeans, much of the produce and meat consumed there is grown domestically.

To reach that level of self-reliance, China must produce food on a massive scale. The students witnessed this firsthand during visits to Mixue, one of the country’s largest food and beverage franchises, and to the headquarters of Muyuan Foods, the world’s largest pork producer. Muyuan’s facilities house tens of thousands of hogs — an operational necessity in a country of more than 1.4 billion people.

Other stops included North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power and the South–North Water Transfer Project, which supplies water to China’s major wheat-growing region.

Lessons on culture, trade and policy beyond the classroom

The trip gave Cronic insight into the complex and crucial trade relationship between the U.S. and China.

“I think for the most part, we should do our best to at least normalize trade relations to some extent,” he said. “They need us, but we need them too.”

Cronic said the trip revealed how culture shapes trade dynamics. For example, China is a major buyer of U.S. chicken paws, a product that has virtually no market in the United States. Despite rising incomes among Chinese consumers, traditional cooking methods still favor chicken paws over pricier cuts of meat, creating a valuable export channel for U.S. producers.

In between industry visits, the group explored cultural sites. One highlight for Cronic was hiking the Great Wall of China on the final day of the trip.

“It's one of the Seven Wonders of the World,” he said. “So, hiking that was really, really beautiful.”

Gaining perspective, finding purpose

Cronic said hands-on learning opportunities like this are key to deepening and expanding his understanding of the agricultural field. “I think a majority of your education takes place outside the class,” he said. “It’s just a great way to broaden your horizons.”

Experiences like this, along with his role as a CAES Ambassador and his experience in the CAES Georgia Legislative Internship Program, are helping prepare Cronic for law school and a future in agricultural policy.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m an expert, and there’s still a lot I need to learn,” he said. “But it’s taught me what I want to do — and also what I don’t want to do.”