April Hemmes

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.

That's alcohol. And then you do toast. And so, you know, you go around and the person that's hosting goes around to every single person and does a toast to them. And you say gumbe, which means bottoms up, and then down it and down. The higher the official, the better the booze, as we say.

That's alcohol. And then you do toast. And so, you know, you go around and the person that's hosting goes around to every single person and does a toast to them. And you say gumbe, which means bottoms up, and then down it and down. The higher the official, the better the booze, as we say.

Yeah. So the United Soybean Export Council used to bring soybean buyers from China and take a tour in the fall and bring them to the farm so they can see what kind of a crop we're going to have. Is it going to be a good crop? You know, are they going to have plenty of beans? And in the fall in Iowa, we host the World Food Prize here. And that's when Honorable Mr. President Bien came.

Yeah. So the United Soybean Export Council used to bring soybean buyers from China and take a tour in the fall and bring them to the farm so they can see what kind of a crop we're going to have. Is it going to be a good crop? You know, are they going to have plenty of beans? And in the fall in Iowa, we host the World Food Prize here. And that's when Honorable Mr. President Bien came.

Yes. And he came to my farm. I knew they were going to stop by. I didn't know it was going to be him. And so I was combining corn. So I said, let's go hop in the combine. And I go, OK. And I showed him because it's auto steer. So you push a button and it steers itself. But he wanted to steer that thing. So he was driving over my 240 bushel corn. I was getting a little upset with him, Michael.

Yes. And he came to my farm. I knew they were going to stop by. I didn't know it was going to be him. And so I was combining corn. So I said, let's go hop in the combine. And I go, OK. And I showed him because it's auto steer. So you push a button and it steers itself. But he wanted to steer that thing. So he was driving over my 240 bushel corn. I was getting a little upset with him, Michael.

Is he sort of destroying your corn? Yeah, he was, yeah, it's driving over my corn. So he got back, we got him back on the row and he was going and I was explaining how the combine works. It takes the corn off the cob. And then I said, turn around. And that's where the corn goes. And he turned around, you know, and the corn's all going in the tank in the combine. And he's just, his eyes were huge.

Is he sort of destroying your corn? Yeah, he was, yeah, it's driving over my corn. So he got back, we got him back on the row and he was going and I was explaining how the combine works. It takes the corn off the cob. And then I said, turn around. And that's where the corn goes. And he turned around, you know, and the corn's all going in the tank in the combine. And he's just, his eyes were huge.

And he just kept saying. How satisfying. How satisfying. I said, yeah, but not when you do it nine, ten hours a day. But just the amazement of being in there. And I also knew he would walk away with that. Driving this big, huge combine in the U.S. and just being able to have that experience, I would think is pretty important.

And he just kept saying. How satisfying. How satisfying. I said, yeah, but not when you do it nine, ten hours a day. But just the amazement of being in there. And I also knew he would walk away with that. Driving this big, huge combine in the U.S. and just being able to have that experience, I would think is pretty important.