« Known as the « Show-Me State, » Missouri seemed to whisper a simple challenge as soon as I arrived: « Go and show yourself what I have to offer. » And that’s exactly what I did. Traveling solo meant there was no itinerary to follow beyond the conference schedule, no familiar streets to guide me, and no strolling group to accompany me between sessions. Every streetcar ride, every museum visit, every restaurant I tried, and every walk through downtown became another opportunity to discover Kansas City one step at a time. »
by Henintsoa Rakoto Harrisson
Some trips begin with excitement. Mine began at 5 a.m.
As someone who is definitely not an early bird, catching such an early flight was already the first adventure of the week. By the time I landed in Kansas City, I was running more on anticipation than on sleep. Yet, even through sleepy eyes, one thing immediately stood out. Art was everywhere. Murals covered building walls, sculptures decorated public spaces, and creativity seemed woven into the city’s identity. As my Uber made its way to the hotel, I couldn’t help noticing that parts of the city reminded me of San Francisco, although Kansas City had a character entirely of its own. Navigating the city felt a little trickier, but the free streetcar quickly became my favorite way to get around, connecting many of the city’s iconic landmarks while making every ride a small adventure in itself.
I had arrived a day before the conference began, giving me a chance to settle in and discover the city before diving into a busy week. The following morning, the 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting officially opened, and I was excited to reconnect with familiar faces while meeting many new researchers. The Africa Section gathering was the perfect way to start the conference, bringing together colleagues from previous meetings while introducing me to new researchers from different universities and institutions.
One of the highlights of the conference came on the very first day, when it was my turn to present. My oral presentation was part of a track session dedicated entirely to migration, making it one of the sessions I had been looking forward to the most. What made it especially engaging was that, although we all worked on migration, each presentation approached the topic from a different perspective. From migration aspirations to labor mobility and migration policies, every talk offered a different lens through which to think about mobility. Presenting my own research in that setting felt particularly rewarding. Beyond sharing my work, I appreciated connecting with researchers who study the same broad topic but through different methods and disciplines and the discussions continued well beyond the session itself.
A little morning routine quickly took shape during the conference. Two mornings started with a 45-minute wellness walk through Kansas City before the sessions began, while the morning in between was reserved for yoga. It was my first time attending a conference that incorporated activities like these, and I genuinely enjoyed them. They offered a chance to stretch, recharge, and chat with fellow attendees before spending the rest of the day moving from one presentation room to another.
Among the many sessions I attended, one left a particularly lasting impression. It explored how artificial intelligence is transforming agriculture from AI-assisted quality grading and autonomous robots planting cover crops to robotic weeding technologies and virtual interfaces supporting farmers’ decision-making. It was one of those sessions where you leave the room with more questions than answers, but in the best possible way. Seeing how economics, agriculture, and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly connected sparked plenty of ideas and highlighted how quickly our field is evolving.
Another feature that made AAEA stand out was its university receptions. Unlike other conferences I had attended, universities hosted their own gatherings, bringing together faculty, students, alumni, and collaborators in a relaxed setting. Arizona State University shared its reception with the University of Idaho and Washington State University, creating another opportunity to meet people beyond my immediate research circle and learn more about the work happening across different institutions.
Once the conference day came to an end, Missouri’s challenge was waiting for me again. Since neither breakfast, lunch, nor dinner was included as part of the conference, every meal became a small adventure of its own. Each day, I found myself searching for a different restaurant, trying new flavors while discovering another corner of Kansas City. Some evenings I hopped on the streetcar, others I simply wandered through downtown, enjoying the freedom of having nowhere to be except wherever curiosity took me. With only a few hours before the next day’s sessions, I quickly learned that solo travel is also an exercise in time management, making the most of every free moment without feeling rushed.
One place that particularly stood out during those explorations was the National WWI Museum and Memorial. I walked in expecting to spend an hour or two there and left having learned more about the First World War than I ever remembered learning in the classroom.
And just when I thought Missouri had shown me everything it had to offer, one final adventure awaited. Before heading back to Phoenix, someone I had met during the conference suggested taking a short trip to Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas. I gladly accepted. The peaceful campus offered a completely different atmosphere from the energy of the conference. Walking through the Spencer Museum of Art galleries felt like the perfect way to slow down before the journey home. Somehow, despite it being my first visit, Lawrence was one of those places that was surprisingly difficult to leave.
As I boarded my flight back to Phoenix, I couldn’t help but smile. Missouri had certainly lived up to its nickname. Between conference sessions, morning walks, streetcar rides, conversations with fellow researchers, and a few unexpected detours, I had managed to show myself a little piece of the Show-Me State.
