In addition to being a leading farm-to-market agribusiness most well-known for producing quality butter and dairy products for consumption across the United States and elsewhere, Land O’Lakes has been a leading participant providing humanitarian assistance in developing countries for 28 years. In partnership with the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Programs funded by USAID, Land O’Lakes has sent more than 1,200 volunteers to 20 developing countries, including localities as diverse as Angola, Azerbaijan, Jamaica, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Russia and South Africa, in order to promote economic growth and food security in communities that have been depressed and impoverished. Under agreements with partner ACDI/VOCA, Land O’Lakes newest Farmer-to-Farmer programs include five-year commitments in Egypt, Lebanon, Mali and Nigeria. They promote a variety of objectives, from strengthening the horticulture and dairy and livestock industries to improving practices in financial services and marketing, and rely on numerous volunteers to complete its goals.

Although Land O’Lakes successes are largely dependent on the funding and support that it receives from USAID, they are equally dependent on the work of its volunteers—individuals who are willing to take their skill set overseas to participate in a short-term volunteer assignment in exchange for airfare, lodging, meals, accident and health insurance, and an interpreter. In general, volunteers donate their time and expertise over a two- to three-week period and typically work with medium and small agro-enterprises, cooperatives, individual producers, agricultural extension and research agencies, and financial institutions. The overseas assignments provide a unique opportunity to realize personal and professional growth, as well as to have an impact on an entire community in need.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please click on “Get Involved” on this Web site, then click on “Opportunities.” In addition to registering in our database, you may contact Diane Bruns, Volunteer Programs Specialist, DMBruns@landolakes.com.