International Dinner

        Every year, Iowa Corn, alongside the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Pork Producers, the Iowa Cattle and Iowa Beef Associations and the Iowa Economic Development Authority come together to host the International Dinner at  Gordon Wassenaar’s farm and invite people from all parts of the world who are here to enjoy the World Pork Expo.

        This year’s World Pork Expo was held in Des Moines, Iowa from June 6^th-8^th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Thousands of producers, business professionals and experts come together to talk about the global pork industry and its future. The expo also hosts a large hog show bringing in exhibitors from across the country during all three days of the event.

        This year’s International Dinner in Prairie City hosted over 100 international guests from 15 different countries, as well as more than 50 Iowa farmers representing each commodity group in Iowa. The guests gathered together to sharing farming practices and build relationships with customers around the world. Everyone gathered in the shed to enjoy dinner and conversations when Mother Nature decided to put a damper on the evening. After a loud thunderstorm rolled through, guests were delighted to walk back outside and capture pictures of the typical Iowa thunderstorm clouds that were not so typical for them.

        Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Deputy Secretary Julie Kenney were also present at the dinner. Sec. Naig and Deputy Sec. Kenney welcomed the guests and spoke praises of rural Iowa, the importance of our family farms, and thanked the guests for their valued partnerships. Many Iowa Corn leaders participated to welcome the international guests to Iowa and share personal stories around the dinner table.