Illinois alum gift expands ACES experiential, international experiences

International exchange was a foundational experience for Ron and Melanie Warfield, and now, the couple hopes to help students follow in their footsteps. Through a $1 million gift to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the couple has created the Ron and Melanie Warfield Global Scholars and Experiential Learning Innovation Fund.

“Our lives have been shaped — personally, professionally, and philosophically — by the power of international exchange,” the Warfields said. “It is our hope that this endowment will help future generations experience that same sense of connection, curiosity, and global understanding.”

The fund, housed in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE), will support international study and will advance domestic immersion programs in policy, agribusiness, and international trade and development.

The Warfields believe experiential learning is important to student success, so their fund works to grow both international and domestic opportunities for students.

“Cultural competence is an important skill for our students to develop,” said Sarah Low, ACE professor and department head. “This generous donation will help expand access to our experiential learning and study abroad programs, enabling more of our students to take part in these often life-changing experiences.”

Ron grew up on a family farm in Illinois. When he was 10 years old, his family hosted a student from Puerto Rico through the 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange. He graduated from ACES with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science in 1965 and went to Nepal through IFYE the following September. 

Similarly, after graduating from Washington University, Melanie applied for the 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange and was also placed in Nepal. The two met at their orientation before the experience.

While in Nepal, the two were struck by the generosity of the families they stayed with.

“The memories are of people who are so warm, loving, and giving,” Melanie said. “There were no limits to what they would do for you, even though we were perfect strangers when we first arrived at the villages.”

Decades later, that kindness has stuck with the Warfields. The pair still wonders what inspired their hosts to give so much. In contrast with the kind people was a new environment and remoteness that was hard to acclimate to, according to the Warfields. 

“But we learned to be prepared, embrace it, and live with it — the lessons learned are more than worth the hardship,” Ron said. 

If they had a chance to go back in time and repeat the experience, the Warfields said they would have loved to learn the language beforehand — part of what they hope their gift helps future students achieve. 

They also want their gift to help educate students about the culture and people before embarking on a program. Ron emphasized the importance of spending time with the locals and then reflecting on the experience to understand what they learned about themselves and the world around them — this is key to a successful exchange program, according to Ron.

The Warfield’s fund will advance opportunities in three critical ways: it will support students’ education before the experience, help facilitate the travel programs, and foster reflection upon their return.

After returning to the United States, Ron and Melanie each gave more than 100 presentations about what their experience had taught them about Nepal, its culture, and the people’s way of life. The Warfields said it further enriched their experience and was very rewarding.

“Anytime you have to make a presentation on what you saw, it makes you pause and think about the experience,” Ron said. “It makes you dig deeper to understand it.”

By living and learning in a foreign country at a young age, the couple developed a vast interest in people and places around the world. Since then, they have traveled to various countries and met people from diverse cultures. 

“The world is an exciting, diverse place,” Melanie said. “And I love to experience it — the different foods, places, and customs. I hope expanding these opportunities allows students to build bridges with their neighbors across the world.”

Ron earned his Master of Agricultural Economics (focused on International Agricultural Economics) in 1967, served in the military, and became an agricultural economist and consultant at Central Soya. He then traveled to Brazil in 1972 and 1974 to evaluate the nation’s soybean potential. Meanwhile, Melanie worked as an occupational therapist. 

Eventually, Ron returned to his family farm. While expanding the farm, Ron consulted on commodity analysis, farm policy, and international trade. He traveled to Europe, South America, and Asia for research and saw firsthand how their policies affected U.S. farming. 

From 1993 to 2003, Ron was president of the Illinois Farm Bureau. He said his time in Nepal — and other places around the globe — shaped his approach to international efforts.

“If you have an understanding of a group and their background, it is beneficial when you meet,” Ron said.

While serving as president of Illinois Farm Bureau, Ron learned how important it was for young people to understand the people, relationships, and conversations that shape agriculture in Washington, D.C. He often said that policy is made by those who show up.

Equipped with that knowledge, Ron created a course in the department, ACE 291: Agriculture Policy and Leadership, designed to give students firsthand experience of agricultural policy and leadership. Students traveled to Washington, D.C., over spring break to put what they learned into practice. 

That commitment to experiential learning is what inspired the Warfields to create this new fund. Ron plans for the fund to help carry on that legacy and continue ACE’s immersive, domestic student experiences, as well as its international programs.

Because of the lasting impact their exchange programs had on both of their lives, the Warfields hope their gift opens doors to students who may not be able to gain experiential learning otherwise. 

They offer this gift with gratitude — for the experiences that shaped them, for the people they met along the way, and for the opportunity to help future students discover their own global paths.

To learn more about supporting the Ron and Melanie Warfield Global Scholars and Experiential Learning Innovation Fund, contact the College of ACES Office of Advancement at acesadvancement@illinois.edu or 217-333-9355.