This story is one in a series from Frances Chisholm highlighting stories of lives impacted by World Poultry Foundation programs and workshops both in the U.S. and abroad. We encourage you to learn more about Ms. Chisholm and our poultry projects in South Africa.
Sethabile “Seh” Dlamini is gob smacked at the Arizona landscape. “I did my research and had braced myself to spend a year in the desert,” said the first South African to intern on an Arizona poultry farm with World Poultry Foundation support. “But, wow, everywhere I look it’s amazing, so beautiful!”
Placed at Rose Acre Farms’ Lone Cactus Egg Farm in Parker, Arizona, Seh is happy that she’ll be caring for 200,000 chickens through their entire growth cycle in one of the farm’s dozen houses. It’s a mighty change from her experience as a Future Farmers Foundation apprentice on a South African broiler farm with only 8,000 chickens per house. It’s also her first experience in a cage-free operation.
The young intern likes her boss and is proud of the freedoms she and a colleague have been given. “She likes the way we work,” says the enthusiastic future farmer of the pullet production manager, “we know what to do; we make our own schedule to make everything correct.” That’s no surprise, as Seh came to the internship program well prepared: She has a National Diploma in Animal Production from a leading South African agricultural college and several years of hands-on experience.
Seh is pleased that Americans are excited to meet her. They ask right off where she’s from. She has grown accustomed to fielding the question, “What’s Africa like?”
Infectiously exuberant, Seh is also delighted with the four-bedroom home she shares with other interns. “The kitchen is very cool, my favorite place. I love to cook!” she exclaims. She also enjoys volleyball, which she has started playing with a local church group. “The pastor has been very welcoming, and I’m with my own age group.”
“I’m very lucky, so happy, so excited to be here,” enthuses Seh. “I love your country!”
We are touched by your joy, Seh, and wish you a fantastic year in Arizona!
The South African interns participate on a J-1 visa exchange visitor program sponsored by the WISE Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Ms. Frances Chisholm
Friend & Supporter of the WPF
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