April Hemmes

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.

I think the value is that personal connection. The personal relationship. Because... It doesn't, I mean, it does come down to price, but when we can tell our stories and they have a face to put with that farmer, you know, they can go, oh, soybean farmer, April. Yeah, I know her. I've talked to her. I know how she raises her crop. I know I've been to her farm, you know, things like that.

I think the value is that personal connection. The personal relationship. Because... It doesn't, I mean, it does come down to price, but when we can tell our stories and they have a face to put with that farmer, you know, they can go, oh, soybean farmer, April. Yeah, I know her. I've talked to her. I know how she raises her crop. I know I've been to her farm, you know, things like that.

That personal connection goes a long way. You know, am I saying it goes a lot farther than cheaper soybeans? No. No. But when it comes to... It's a factor. It really is. And it's amazing to me how much of a factor it can be. And it does mean something now because they have other places they can go. And yet they still buy over half of our soybeans we export.

That personal connection goes a long way. You know, am I saying it goes a lot farther than cheaper soybeans? No. No. But when it comes to... It's a factor. It really is. And it's amazing to me how much of a factor it can be. And it does mean something now because they have other places they can go. And yet they still buy over half of our soybeans we export.

Eight or nine times, at least nine times, I think.

Eight or nine times, at least nine times, I think.

Oh, that chart's a beauty in 2016 or 2017. Because it was growing, growing, growing. And then the first tariff set. And then boom. Down.

Oh, that chart's a beauty in 2016 or 2017. Because it was growing, growing, growing. And then the first tariff set. And then boom. Down.

You mean today? Yeah, right now.

You mean today? Yeah, right now.