
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
”
Be First to Comment