BRIEF: Rotary to host Earth University students

Mar 9, 2010 — The Lebanon Reporter

Rod Rose

Mar. 9, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- LEBANON -- Students at a central America university will be visiting Boone County this summer to learn more about modern methods of agriculture.

Lori Unruh Snyder, an assistant professor of agronomy at Purdue University, spoke at the Lebanon Rotary Club Friday to describe the objectives, goals and history of Earth University, located on a sprawling rural campus in La Flor, a town in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province.

Visiting students will spend about a week here, said LeeAnn Nash, Rotary president. They will visit the Monsanto Co.'s (NYSE:MON) seed research laboratory at 228 W. CR 700 S, Lebanon. Nash said Rotarians hope to expand the program.

Earth University, now in its 20th year, was founded to offer exceptional students from developing nations training in "strong, sustainable agribusinesses." It is a four-year college that focuses on agricultural science and natural resource management.

Courses are based on four key factors: Entrepreneurship, environmental and social consciousness, ethical values, and scientific and technical knowledge.

See Tuesday's Lebanon Reporter for the complete story.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0436-42705282