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learn the basis for cupping their own coffee, though it's one of the best ways to get feedback and find out how to improve their quality. On the first day the campers are like new students everywhere— somewhat shy and reserved, willing to watch if not quite engage— but by the third day, they are boisterous and thoroughly engrossed, asking question after question of the presenters, and pretty clearly looking like they never want camp to end. On the final evening of the NCG, the campers break into barista teams, where they have to make cappuccinos and create signature drinks from random ingredients, amidst lively cheering and singing by the crowd of their peers. It's an especially amazing competition considering that before the camp, not only had most of the campers never used an espresso machine before, but many of them had never even tasted an espresso or cappuccino. Just before the competition began, Governor Fajardo visited camp to announce the winners of the NGC elections. One of the new events for this year's NGC was the election of representatives from six geographic regions to form a coffee advi- sory board. The campers made signs, gave speeches, and wrote platforms for agenda items they would tackle on behalf of their fellow young farmers if they were elected, after which there was a camp-wide vote. Overall, the NGC seems like a roadmap for many struggling coffee communi- ties, not just in Colombia, but all over the world. It provides concrete tools for improving coffee quality, whether through tactile steps like processing, improved performance with selective picking, or the simple yet revolutionary act of learning to cup. It does all of this with hands-on technology, teaching campers to use spreadsheets to track expenses and incomes for their farms so they can make meaningful budgets that help them stay fiscally solvent throughout the year. Fur- ther, the NGC camp helps the survival of rural communities if it can help convince young people that they do have a future on their farms. The NGC has just finished its three-year run, and it and the entire AOSC project must now secure funding from the state to continue their work. The organizers are hopeful that the Antioquia government will continue to support the project. After planting a coffee tree, it typically takes three to four years to produce cher- ry for harvest. Hopefully, the regional government will recognize that the in- vestment they've made over the last three years is just the beginning of the process, and they will vote to continue it so that they, their communities, and the global coffee community will be able to harvest the fruits of their efforts for many years to come. 36 barista magazine