April Hemmes

And it's not just big, huge fields like we're used to here. It was very, very small parcels. put together. So that's how they got to lease the ground from the government. So it's all hand done. We saw the stover from the corn piled in the corner. The stover is the corn stalks, anything but the corn. And they would use that to heat their houses. You know, they were drying their wheat on the road.

And it's not just big, huge fields like we're used to here. It was very, very small parcels. put together. So that's how they got to lease the ground from the government. So it's all hand done. We saw the stover from the corn piled in the corner. The stover is the corn stalks, anything but the corn. And they would use that to heat their houses. You know, they were drying their wheat on the road.

They had spread the wheat out on the road to dry it.

They had spread the wheat out on the road to dry it.

Yes, and one of the biggest ones, they took us to one of their show farms, and the interpreters always wanted to be by me and talk to me.

Yes, and one of the biggest ones, they took us to one of their show farms, and the interpreters always wanted to be by me and talk to me.

I know. April, is this just like your farm? Now, it's the same size as my farm, a 1,000-acre farm. There were like 400 landowners, let's say. They didn't own it. And the Chinese are very good at showing you what they want you to see. There were like 24 row combines lined up, little tiny tractors, you know, a bunch of those. And the interpreter said, April, is this like your tractor? And I said...

I know. April, is this just like your farm? Now, it's the same size as my farm, a 1,000-acre farm. There were like 400 landowners, let's say. They didn't own it. And the Chinese are very good at showing you what they want you to see. There were like 24 row combines lined up, little tiny tractors, you know, a bunch of those. And the interpreter said, April, is this like your tractor? And I said...

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that is like the tractor I mow my lawn with. Wow. And it's like, I said, no, what you're doing on this farm, I do by myself.

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that is like the tractor I mow my lawn with. Wow. And it's like, I said, no, what you're doing on this farm, I do by myself.

So I was really glad I went on that. I assumed it was going to be the last time I, or only time I ever got there. But then fast forward to 2015 and I was appointed to the United Soybean Board by the Secretary of Ag. And so I was asked to go on a trip there to support And that's where I met Honorable Mr. President Bien.

So I was really glad I went on that. I assumed it was going to be the last time I, or only time I ever got there. But then fast forward to 2015 and I was appointed to the United Soybean Board by the Secretary of Ag. And so I was asked to go on a trip there to support And that's where I met Honorable Mr. President Bien.

And if you ever go to China, I hope you guys have a chance to, and you meet public officials. It's these huge rooms with the large murals in the background. And you're just in awe. And it's meant to be that way, I think, you know. So I met with him, very cordial.

And if you ever go to China, I hope you guys have a chance to, and you meet public officials. It's these huge rooms with the large murals in the background. And you're just in awe. And it's meant to be that way, I think, you know. So I met with him, very cordial.

Yeah, he was the president of the Commerce Department for Food and Natural Agriculture Products. So it's who we talked to when we went over there because he was kind of the head of that Commerce Department.

Yeah, he was the president of the Commerce Department for Food and Natural Agriculture Products. So it's who we talked to when we went over there because he was kind of the head of that Commerce Department.

He was the dude. Yes, he was the man. So, you know, we meet and you go into this big room. You know, I'm not a negotiator for the government or anything. I was there to tell my story, talk about the high-quality soybeans. I just told them how I raised my crops. You know, this is how I plant my soybeans, I keep my water quality high, how I harvested them weed-free.

He was the dude. Yes, he was the man. So, you know, we meet and you go into this big room. You know, I'm not a negotiator for the government or anything. I was there to tell my story, talk about the high-quality soybeans. I just told them how I raised my crops. You know, this is how I plant my soybeans, I keep my water quality high, how I harvested them weed-free.

And then afterwards, there's usually a supper or a dinner and literally the big spinny table where you get to pick what you eat. The whole fish presented or the whole duck, the Peking duck with the head on it and everything, you know, and then they come out and serve you. It's really it's quite grand when you have a state meal. But then they bring the soju out and it's rocket fuel, basically.

And then afterwards, there's usually a supper or a dinner and literally the big spinny table where you get to pick what you eat. The whole fish presented or the whole duck, the Peking duck with the head on it and everything, you know, and then they come out and serve you. It's really it's quite grand when you have a state meal. But then they bring the soju out and it's rocket fuel, basically.