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Iowa’s Humanitarian Heritage in Feeding the World | Crystal Harris | TEDxDrakeU


so I am here today to talk about

so I am here today to talk about thinking the world and Iowa has this

thinking the world and Iowa has this

thinking the world and Iowa has this amazing humanitarian legacy of feeding

amazing humanitarian legacy of feeding

amazing humanitarian legacy of feeding the world and last week in fact we

the world and last week in fact we

the world and last week in fact we celebrated the hundred and third

celebrated the hundred and third

celebrated the hundred and third anniversary of perhaps one of Iowa’s

anniversary of perhaps one of Iowa’s

anniversary of perhaps one of Iowa’s greatest humanitarian heroes and that

greatest humanitarian heroes and that

greatest humanitarian heroes and that persons dr. Norman E Borlaug and so I’m

persons dr. Norman E Borlaug and so I’m

persons dr. Norman E Borlaug and so I’m here today to not only tell you about

here today to not only tell you about

here today to not only tell you about his story but also tell you the story

his story but also tell you the story

his story but also tell you the story about some of Iowa’s other great

about some of Iowa’s other great

about some of Iowa’s other great humanitarians in hopes that you will

humanitarians in hopes that you will

humanitarians in hopes that you will retell them as part of continuing our

retell them as part of continuing our

retell them as part of continuing our humanitarian legacy so dr. Borlaug was

humanitarian legacy so dr. Borlaug was

humanitarian legacy so dr. Borlaug was born on a farm

born on a farm

born on a farm in northeastern Iowa just outside of

in northeastern Iowa just outside of

in northeastern Iowa just outside of Cresco and after he received his PhD in

Cresco and after he received his PhD in

Cresco and after he received his PhD in plant pathology he went down to Mexico

plant pathology he went down to Mexico

plant pathology he went down to Mexico in 1944 with calf as a research

in 1944 with calf as a research

in 1944 with calf as a research scientist to improve wheat and so he was

scientist to improve wheat and so he was

scientist to improve wheat and so he was there for over two decades overcoming a

there for over two decades overcoming a

there for over two decades overcoming a series of obstacles in them to improve

series of obstacles in them to improve

series of obstacles in them to improve week cultivation in the country that’s

week cultivation in the country that’s

week cultivation in the country that’s all the time he was done with his work

all the time he was done with his work

all the time he was done with his work he created wheat that was disease

he created wheat that was disease

he created wheat that was disease resistant had potential for higher

resistant had potential for higher

resistant had potential for higher yields and also could be grown in a

yields and also could be grown in a

yields and also could be grown in a variety of climates and so because of

variety of climates and so because of

variety of climates and so because of his work he’s credited with saving over

his work he’s credited with saving over

his work he’s credited with saving over a billion lives more than anyone who’s

a billion lives more than anyone who’s

a billion lives more than anyone who’s ever lived and in 1970 he received a

ever lived and in 1970 he received a

ever lived and in 1970 he received a Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work

Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work

Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work dedicated to feeding a hungry world

dedicated to feeding a hungry world

dedicated to feeding a hungry world Herbert Hoover with the 31st President

Herbert Hoover with the 31st President

Herbert Hoover with the 31st President of the United States born in West Branch

of the United States born in West Branch

of the United States born in West Branch on in Eastern Iowa but before he was

on in Eastern Iowa but before he was

on in Eastern Iowa but before he was president however he was tasked with

president however he was tasked with

president however he was tasked with feeding Belgium during World War one

feeding Belgium during World War one

feeding Belgium during World War one because of an overrun by Germany and so

because of an overrun by Germany and so

because of an overrun by Germany and so not only was he cast with this he took

not only was he cast with this he took

not only was he cast with this he took food aid over to Belgium with an also to

food aid over to Belgium with an also to

food aid over to Belgium with an also to Central Europe and then later to Soviet

Central Europe and then later to Soviet

Central Europe and then later to Soviet Russia and when he was criticized for

Russia and when he was criticized for

Russia and when he was criticized for doing so his response was millions of

doing so his response was millions of

doing so his response was millions of people are hungry regardless of their

people are hungry regardless of their

people are hungry regardless of their politics

politics

politics let them be fed and so as a result of

let them be fed and so as a result of

let them be fed and so as a result of this work he’s credited the world

this work he’s credited the world

this work he’s credited the world gratitude for being the great

gratitude for being the great

gratitude for being the great humanitarian so one of my favorite

humanitarian so one of my favorite

humanitarian so one of my favorite stories about Iowa’s humanitarian

stories about Iowa’s humanitarian

stories about Iowa’s humanitarian heritage is called the Iowa hog lift and

heritage is called the Iowa hog lift and

heritage is called the Iowa hog lift and this story begins in 1959 in Yamanashi

this story begins in 1959 in Yamanashi

this story begins in 1959 in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan where the area was

Prefecture in Japan where the area was

Prefecture in Japan where the area was struck by two typhoons which wiped out

struck by two typhoons which wiped out

struck by two typhoons which wiped out their animal husbandry and though there

their animal husbandry and though there

their animal husbandry and though there was a US air

was a US air

was a US air US Air Force Master Sergeant named

US Air Force Master Sergeant named

US Air Force Master Sergeant named Robert Thomas who believed that his home

Robert Thomas who believed that his home

Robert Thomas who believed that his home state could help revamp the area’s Hut

state could help revamp the area’s Hut

state could help revamp the area’s Hut animal husbandry particularly with hogs

animal husbandry particularly with hogs

animal husbandry particularly with hogs and so partnering with Iowa farmers Iowa

and so partnering with Iowa farmers Iowa

and so partnering with Iowa farmers Iowa AG leaders as well as u.s. embassy

AG leaders as well as u.s. embassy

AG leaders as well as u.s. embassy officials they took 35 hogs from Iowa

officials they took 35 hogs from Iowa

officials they took 35 hogs from Iowa and were fed with Iowa corn over to the

and were fed with Iowa corn over to the

and were fed with Iowa corn over to the Yamanashi Prefecture and these hogs and

Yamanashi Prefecture and these hogs and

Yamanashi Prefecture and these hogs and nine years had 5,000 offspring and

nine years had 5,000 offspring and

nine years had 5,000 offspring and totally revamped the animal husbandry in

totally revamped the animal husbandry in

totally revamped the animal husbandry in that country or in that Prefecture and

that country or in that Prefecture and

that country or in that Prefecture and so to thank us Yamanashi sent this

so to thank us Yamanashi sent this

so to thank us Yamanashi sent this picture you’ll see the belt that’s in

picture you’ll see the belt that’s in

picture you’ll see the belt that’s in the upper left-hand corner and this Bell

the upper left-hand corner and this Bell

the upper left-hand corner and this Bell still stands down for the Capitol on the

still stands down for the Capitol on the

still stands down for the Capitol on the Capitol grounds today and so in 1993

Capitol grounds today and so in 1993

Capitol grounds today and so in 1993 when we had what’s called our great

when we had what’s called our great

when we had what’s called our great flood of 93 here in Iowa they sent

flood of 93 here in Iowa they sent

flood of 93 here in Iowa they sent drinking water to Iowa and so today

drinking water to Iowa and so today

drinking water to Iowa and so today because of these historical interactions

because of these historical interactions

because of these historical interactions Yamanashi in iowa our sister states

Yamanashi in iowa our sister states

Yamanashi in iowa our sister states today so even though i am was born in

today so even though i am was born in

today so even though i am was born in Iowa raised in Iowa and the drakes alum

Iowa raised in Iowa and the drakes alum

Iowa raised in Iowa and the drakes alum I didn’t know any of these stories until

I didn’t know any of these stories until

I didn’t know any of these stories until I began working at the World Food Prize

I began working at the World Food Prize

I began working at the World Food Prize foundation where we endeavour to

foundation where we endeavour to

foundation where we endeavour to highlight Iowans who had this kind of

highlight Iowans who had this kind of

highlight Iowans who had this kind of humanitarian impact and feeding the

humanitarian impact and feeding the

humanitarian impact and feeding the world and we also do this by uniting

world and we also do this by uniting

world and we also do this by uniting Iowans together every year during our

Iowans together every year during our

Iowans together every year during our Iowa hunger summit to encourage people

Iowa hunger summit to encourage people

Iowa hunger summit to encourage people to continue to fight against hunger here

to continue to fight against hunger here

to continue to fight against hunger here in Iowa and we also do that through

in Iowa and we also do that through

in Iowa and we also do that through what’s called our Iowa hunger directory

what’s called our Iowa hunger directory

what’s called our Iowa hunger directory an online platform that seeks to profile

an online platform that seeks to profile

an online platform that seeks to profile every organization in the state that

every organization in the state that

every organization in the state that addresses hunger issues in just a few of

addresses hunger issues in just a few of

addresses hunger issues in just a few of these examples is over 500 organizations

these examples is over 500 organizations

these examples is over 500 organizations there and their international

there and their international

there and their international organizations their educational entities

organizations their educational entities

organizations their educational entities like Drake University and there are also

like Drake University and there are also

like Drake University and there are also community-based initiatives all over our

community-based initiatives all over our

community-based initiatives all over our state and again these dots are only a

state and again these dots are only a

state and again these dots are only a fraction of what’s going on in Iowa

fraction of what’s going on in Iowa

fraction of what’s going on in Iowa today so all these sides represent

today so all these sides represent

today so all these sides represent organizations like share the harvest

organizations like share the harvest

organizations like share the harvest share the harvest wise of an

share the harvest wise of an

share the harvest wise of an organization that was started by Robin

organization that was started by Robin

organization that was started by Robin stone and Manchester Iowa and she

stone and Manchester Iowa and she

stone and Manchester Iowa and she realized that many in her community were

realized that many in her community were

realized that many in her community were food insecure because they live in food

food insecure because they live in food

food insecure because they live in food deserts and so beginning on no budget

deserts and so beginning on no budget

deserts and so beginning on no budget she decided to do something about it and

she decided to do something about it and

she decided to do something about it and begin reaching out to local farmers

begin reaching out to local farmers

begin reaching out to local farmers asking them to donate access produce and

asking them to donate access produce and

asking them to donate access produce and so now she feeds over 120 people a week

so now she feeds over 120 people a week

so now she feeds over 120 people a week for 16 weeks out of the year all those

for 16 weeks out of the year all those

for 16 weeks out of the year all those organizations like self help

organizations like self help

organizations like self help International which is also run by

International which is also run by

International which is also run by Norma Tobin and this organization has

Norma Tobin and this organization has

Norma Tobin and this organization has the name explains has an international

the name explains has an international

the name explains has an international focus and they seek to uplift

focus and they seek to uplift

focus and they seek to uplift small-scale smallholder farmers in

small-scale smallholder farmers in

small-scale smallholder farmers in developing countries and doing so in

developing countries and doing so in

developing countries and doing so in sustainable development ways in a way

sustainable development ways in a way

sustainable development ways in a way that allows the farmers to maintain

that allows the farmers to maintain

that allows the farmers to maintain their dignity closer to home here in des

their dignity closer to home here in des

their dignity closer to home here in des moines there’s also children family

moines there’s also children family

moines there’s also children family urban movement it’s an organization that

urban movement it’s an organization that

urban movement it’s an organization that seeks to tap into the potential of

seeks to tap into the potential of

seeks to tap into the potential of children and young people by educational

children and young people by educational

children and young people by educational means and healthy living and so it’s

means and healthy living and so it’s

means and healthy living and so it’s part of what they do they have what’s

part of what they do they have what’s

part of what they do they have what’s called breakfast clubs and supper clubs

called breakfast clubs and supper clubs

called breakfast clubs and supper clubs that feed kids during the summer at a

that feed kids during the summer at a

that feed kids during the summer at a time where they may not have access

time where they may not have access

time where they may not have access healthy meals during the school year and

healthy meals during the school year and

healthy meals during the school year and supper clubs alone be thirty one

supper clubs alone be thirty one

supper clubs alone be thirty one thousand thirty one thousand meals are

thousand thirty one thousand meals are

thousand thirty one thousand meals are served just during the summer as part of

served just during the summer as part of

served just during the summer as part of that program right here in Drake’s

that program right here in Drake’s

that program right here in Drake’s backyard there’s Lutheran services in

backyard there’s Lutheran services in

backyard there’s Lutheran services in Iowa an organization as many of you

Iowa an organization as many of you

Iowa an organization as many of you probably already know but one of the

probably already know but one of the

probably already know but one of the aspects of what they do with their

aspects of what they do with their

aspects of what they do with their global greens program and so when

global greens program and so when

global greens program and so when refugees are relocated here to Iowa

refugees are relocated here to Iowa

refugees are relocated here to Iowa they’re allowed land access they

they’re allowed land access they

they’re allowed land access they continue their agricultural practices

continue their agricultural practices

continue their agricultural practices and in doing so allows them access to

and in doing so allows them access to

and in doing so allows them access to healthy food options that are cheaper

healthy food options that are cheaper

healthy food options that are cheaper but also allows them to continue and

but also allows them to continue and

but also allows them to continue and educate others on their traditional

educate others on their traditional

educate others on their traditional agricultural practices and so finally

agricultural practices and so finally

agricultural practices and so finally right here at Drake there’s next course

right here at Drake there’s next course

right here at Drake there’s next course an organization that has retrieved

an organization that has retrieved

an organization that has retrieved hundreds of pounds of food as part of

hundreds of pounds of food as part of

hundreds of pounds of food as part of Drake University as part of what happens

Drake University as part of what happens

Drake University as part of what happens to cafeteria but also events here at

to cafeteria but also events here at

to cafeteria but also events here at Drake and I assume this one as well but

Drake and I assume this one as well but

Drake and I assume this one as well but the food is then redistribute to

the food is then redistribute to

the food is then redistribute to redistribute it to families that need it

redistribute it to families that need it

redistribute it to families that need it the most here in Des Moines so I tell

the most here in Des Moines so I tell

the most here in Des Moines so I tell you all these things to encourage you to

you all these things to encourage you to

you all these things to encourage you to make an impact and learn the stories of

make an impact and learn the stories of

make an impact and learn the stories of what’s going on in your own community

what’s going on in your own community

what’s going on in your own community and that can be simple as liking a

and that can be simple as liking a

and that can be simple as liking a Facebook page share the harvest for

Facebook page share the harvest for

Facebook page share the harvest for instance as of this afternoon only has

instance as of this afternoon only has

instance as of this afternoon only has 41 lights on our Facebook page and if

41 lights on our Facebook page and if

41 lights on our Facebook page and if everyone in this room and that attends

everyone in this room and that attends

everyone in this room and that attends this event today went in like their

this event today went in like their

this event today went in like their Facebook page that would double robin

Facebook page that would double robin

Facebook page that would double robin social media presence which is the only

social media presence which is the only

social media presence which is the only present

present

present that she has to talk about her

that she has to talk about her

that she has to talk about her organization online so whatever you

organization online so whatever you

organization online so whatever you decide to do I urge you and implore you

decide to do I urge you and implore you

decide to do I urge you and implore you to become a part of learn and retell the

to become a part of learn and retell the

to become a part of learn and retell the stories of Iowa’s humanitarian heroes of

stories of Iowa’s humanitarian heroes of

stories of Iowa’s humanitarian heroes of past and present because in doing so you

past and present because in doing so you

past and present because in doing so you are in a small but not insignificant way

are in a small but not insignificant way

are in a small but not insignificant way continuing to fight against hunger both

continuing to fight against hunger both

continuing to fight against hunger both in Iowa and around the world

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