The week my wife and I spent in Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I came away with many thoughts. And even though I wrote a blog post about the similarities between our two cultures, I couldn’t help but walk away from this experience realizing how everyone in the world is different. Every single one of us has a purpose in life that is unique!

Take, for example, the four pig farmers we talked with last week in Japan. They are against trade agreements because they’re trying to protect their livelihoods. I understand what. What they don’t seem to understand is that there is unmet demand. The Japanese don’t have enough space to raise the amount of meat demanded by the country’s population.

When asked if they could sell more U.S. Pork in their meat markets, the Japanese pork producers told us our product is too fat! I know that statement is false because I have raised pork for that market. Importers are very picky about what they want shipped to them. We had to raise pigs with certain genetics. Pigs for export to Japan were fed a specific ration, and they had to be a certain weight for harvest. There’s no doubt about it… The pigs I sold to their market were very lean!

American pork producers have a tremendous market opportunity for our products if we can get our governments out of the way! That made me think about all the ways government is influencing and controlling our “standard of living.”

U.S. schools are very much controlled by the federal government. Our own tax dollars are being used to support standardized lessons and standardized tests. All kids are being compared to the “standard,” but I have to question whether we’re benchmarking the right stats or whether our standards are high enough! Take one trip through a fast food drive-through and you’ll realize that counting back change has become a lost skill.

Another recent example of how “standardization” is being questioned is Britain’s exit from European Union. The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership of 28 countries. They wanted trade and travel to flow freely throughout all their countries, so they standardized their systems. In doing so, each country lost its uniqueness!

Different regions of America also have their own unique flavor due to the influence of early settlers, as well as the natural resources and agricultural crops that are found in those area. Agriculture varies state by state, from county to county, and even from farm to farm. There is definitely “Midwest Fare,” yet traditional foods vary throughout Nebraska, North Dakota and other Upper Midwest states.

We can celebrate each region’s uniqueness yet still meld in the Melting Pot. One thing I noted in Japan is the strong sense of culture. Just like they do in different areas of Japan, we should cherish our heritage and culture! I believe some of the strife we’re seeing during this political campaign season has to do with people not cherishing their own background and heritage.

As politics heats up through November, keep in mind what direction you think our country should go. “We the People” have no power unless we talk to elected officials and let them know what we want! Our federal government was designed with checks and balances, so that no one branch of our government could become too powerful. It’s time we restore that balance!

The federal government was given very narrow powers that must be followed and enforced. You do that with your vote and your voice. Exercise your right to be heard and to vote because our livelihood depends on it.

Latham’s 2016 Freedom of Independence Ride Will Raise Funds for Service Dog Training

From the time he was a 4-H member in Muscatine County, Iowa, Jerry Broders has felt compelled to help make his community a better place by getting involved in charitable organizations. The more Jerry learned about Retrieving Freedom Inc., the more he knew he had to get involved with RFI.

Retrieving Freedom spends two years — and approximately $20,000 — training specific dogs to place with disabled veterans and individuals with autism. The organization receives four requests for every dog that has been trained through its program.

“As Americans, we have a duty to help repay and support those who have given so much to our country,” says Jerry. “My wife, Kim, and I decided we wanted to help support RFI’s efforts to provide more dogs for people who need their services.”

Jerry and Kim Broders of DeWitt, Iowa, decided to purchase a breeding female for Retrieving Freedom Inc.’s program because it takes quality dogs to become trained service dogs. These dogs must have the correct temperament, intelligence, confirmation and skills.

The Broders oldest son, Zachary, served in the Army Infantry. Jerry’s niece has a son with autism. Getting involved with RFI is personal to the Broders, but even if you don’t have a direct connection with someone who suffers from PTSD or autism, you can’t help but be touched by the people who are being helped through RFI’s services.

“Some of my son’s fellow soldiers did not come back from Afghanistan, and many of the ones who did come home some have really struggled to return to civilian life,” says Jerry. “There is no greater group in the world than the men and women, who serve and protect our country. Each one has a story to tell and know they serve to protect something that is bigger than just one person or a small group of people. They deserve our support and respect.”

“I’ve seen first-hand the challenges that come with raising an autistic child,” adds Jerry. “I’ve seen the great work that service dogs can do helping these kids and their parents get through each day.  There is a transformation that takes place with the child when paired a service dog that is nothing less than amazing!”

RFI’s service dogs are tailored to meet the precise needs of the person with whom they will be placed, and like any charitable organization, RFI has limited amount of resources available.

“There are so many groups out there looking for funding, so the challenge is finding a group that’s actually living up to its mission statement and not misusing the donations. After I talked with Scott Dewey and saw first-hand how RFI helps our veterans and individuals with autism, I knew my wife and I had to get involved with this project.

You Can Help, Too!

You can get involved on a smaller scale by helping raise funds for RFI by participating in the Latham Freedom of Independence Run.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds of Alexander, Iowa, will donate the first $5,000 to RFI at its Freedom of Independence Ride around eastern Iowa on Aug. 19, which is being held on a R.E.D. Shirt Friday to “remember everyone deployed.”

One hundred percent of a rider’s registration fees for Latham’s Freedom of Independence Ride will benefit RFI. The $25 per rider registration fee includes two meals plus a commemorative t-shirt and a do-rag. You’ll have a chance to see RFI dogs in training and watch them demonstrate skills. In addition, Nashville-recording artist Neil Hewitt will perform following the ride.

Anyone interested in touring farms and learning about topics like weed management and cover crops is welcome to attend! We’ll be making a couple of fun stops along the way including one at Antique Archeology. Register for the Latham Freedom of Independence Ride today at lathamseeds.com!

This is the trip of a life time!

My wife, Janice, and I boarded a plane July 7 for Japan as part of an Iowa Farm Bureau trip. As I write this blog post, I’m sitting in a hotel room in the Tokyo where 13 million people live within the city limits and another 4 million commute here every day for work.

This city is a marvelous network of roads, railways and forms of transportation. There are places where the roads are stacked six deep above ground plus there is underground transportation outside my view. No wonder the young female producer, who visited my farm in 2012 with a Japanese film crew, stood in awe of the countryside and said this is what she had dreamed of. I imagine she had never before see so many miles of farmland nor such sparsely populated communities.

Fast forward about four years and now I am the one in awe. I had no idea until now that there isn’t green grass – or any open space – in Tokyo. A lawn mower would be out of place in this city where buildings stretch to the horizon. From ground level, a person notices concrete everywhere: buildings, roadways and sidewalks. It took a visit to the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree to see patches of green thanks to our bird’s eye view of the tree tops.

Another observation that amazed us is the cleanliness of the city. There are millions of people in this city – and no visible trash cans – yet there is no garbage to be found. Janice saw one bottle tucked into a shrub, but that was the only piece of garbage we saw during an entire day touring the city!

Not only is Tokyo clean, but it’s safe. As we left our bus to tour, we were told you could leave all your valuables onboard. What a difference this was from Ukraine where you couldn’t set a bag down at all without worrying about it getting taken!

Cleanliness and honesty are valued in Japanese culture. Upon entering a temple, we were shown the fountain of water for cleansing. The Japanese also take great pride in honoring customs. We visited a Bonsai Garden museum where we learned about green tea. We also tried writing in their language and dressed up as a traditional warrior. What fun!

I learned more about the Japanese culture while seated for an evening meal next to Evan Mangino, with the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service; Yusaku Nakajima, senior staff of the International Affairs division for Yamanashi Prefectural Government; and Kim Heidemann, executive director of Iowa Sister States. The conversation was amazing!

Our next leg of this journey is a visit to Iowa’s Sister State of Yamanashi. Hopefully, we’ll find some pigs along the way! (Remember, Iowa’s friendship with Japan was strengthened by the 1960 hog lift. Click here to learn more.)

I’m looking forward to more days of filled with fun learning experiences. And, of course, I plan to blog about them next week! In the meantime, you might enjoy reading the following blogs written by others who are with me on this trip.

Related Posts:

• Finding Familiar Treats Far from Home
• Farmers, the Accidental Diplomats
• Iowa’s Friendship with Japan Stands the Test of Time

By Amber Hammes, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

All across Iowa, county fair season has officially begun. County fairs are more than just sewing projects and 4-H kids showing their livestock, though. They’re events for everyone in the community to come together and enjoy.

Here in Franklin County, our fair is going on this week from July 13-17. The Tall Corn FFA chapter is doing its part to engage with the community by hosting the annual event, Franklin’s Farm Hands. Borne out of an idea stemming from the Iowa State Fair’s popular kid’s attraction, Little Hands on the Farm, Franklin’s Farm Hands aims to educate kids about where their food comes from. (more…)

America needs farmers. Our infrastructure is key to global commerce. The world needs farmers, who use cutting edge technology to raise a diverse food supply. Why? Because agriculture can help solve the world’s problems in relation to hunger, health issues, and improving the quality of life.

I’m getting excited for a trip this week to Japan with the Iowa Farm Bureau! There are so many reasons I’m thrilled to be part of this delegation, but the fact that we have a sister State in Japan makes it even better.

Diplomacy with Japan was strained after World War II, as you can imagine. But in 1959, a typhoon in Yamanashi Prefecture changed the relationship between Iowa and Yamanashi for the better. An Iowa sergeant, who had vacationed in Yamanashi when he was stationed in Japan, heard this disaster had caused heavy damage to agriculture. Sgt. Richard Thomas decided to help, and Iowans did not disappoint! They shipped 35 breeding hogs and 100,000 bushels of corn to the needy state. This act of kindness started our Sister State program.

In 1960, Yamanashi became the first of nine Iowa Sister States around the world. There have been many exchanges between these sister states involving agriculture, education, art, music, sports, medicines and more. The most important exchange, however, is friendship.

Many life-long friendships have formed because of that shipment of pigs to Japan. Yamanashi sent aid to support our state during the great flooding of 1993. Again in 2014, Iowa sent aid to Japan when it suffered from extreme amounts of snow.

I’m going to fly over to Japan and personally research this relationship with Yamanashi Prefecture. I’m hoping to learn more about their culture, food, and maybe even see some pigs! I wonder what breed of swine we sent them… so stay tune. I plan to blog more about what I see and learn about agriculture in Japan.

Related Posts:

• Learning about Ag from Halfway around the World
• Imagine 4,500 Landlords!
• Farmers Markets Open 24/7 in Ukraine
• How Eastern European Farms Measure Up
• Women Farmers Helping Women Farmers
• Breaking Down Walls in China