This week 4-H host families are driving to Portage to pick up 19 Japanese students for a two-week stay.

The exchange between Manitoba 4-H students and Japanese students celebrates it's 30th anniversary this year.

"There were some conversations back 30 years ago between the Department of Agriculture and the York-Benimaru Foundation and it just seemed like a good fit," explained Carlie Whetter, Manitoba 4-H Council president.

The foundation encourages youth to foster an international spirit by experiencing other cultures.

Whetter said they will celebrate the 30-year partnership through dinners, a video, welcome parties, fare-well parties, and 4-H geared events.

She will be hosting one Japanese student again this year, and has plenty in store for their stay. Activities will include camping, swimming, visiting lakes, and experiencing farm life.

"Our 4-H volunteer families, they just love this experience, and they sort of line up to do it again the next year. Lots of people they say they get addicted to wanting to show someone from another culture things that we do, and their excitement and their enthusiasm about every day things, that's really interesting," she said.

Whetter added she especially loves showing off the vast lands and driving the combine.

"Watching the sunset, having campfires, going to the Souris pool, all of those things that we do on a regular summer basis are things that they probably don't do in Japan," she said.

Related Article: Manitoba 4-H Students Travel to Japan

19 students from Japan come every year to experience Western culture.