Ashley took a six-week break from her work at Claxby Farms in Eyrewell to join a group of seven young farmers from Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and Austria on the ten-week exchange.
She cut her trip short to come back and help with the calving.
They were in Canada to see how dairy, beef, sheep, pig and goat farms are operated and how various crops such as tobacco and grains are grown in colder climates.
Ashley spent most of her six-week absence in Ontario and reported staying with hosts in the small rural communities of Peterborough, Durham, Middlesex, Oxford and Renfree, northeast of Toronto.
But she admits it wasn’t what she expected. “It was much better than I could have ever imagined.
“The hosts’ efforts made everything great, they organized everything, asked our opinion and did their utmost to make everyone comfortable.”
The young farmers’ clubs were similar in size to New Zealand and varied between 20 and 50 members.
The best food she tried was “Putin” chips and gravy with cheese curds on top.
Other highlights included visiting a massive 2,850-acre potato farm and tasting water buffalo meat.
Their host families organized everything and often took them on excursions.
One of her hosts even took her to a shooting range where she used many different firearms.
Ashley said dairy farm sizes ranged from 30 to 1,000 dairy cows – and her dairy farming skills were valued when she stayed on a Jersey farm and helped with milking.
A highlight was Canada Day in Ottawa and a visit to Niagara Falls.
“Staying overnight and watching the lights and fireworks was fun.”
“I have even seen some Mennonites living without electricity, which is very different to Scotland and New Zealand.
“These people were highly respected in their communities.”
Her advice to anyone thinking about a similar type of farming exchange is to just do it.
“Say yes to every opportunity to do things you could never do.
“You spend time with hosts who know all the tips and tricks to have the best experience.”
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”