Ag diplomats visit Indiana farm

GALVESTON, Ind. — A group of agricultural diplomats from around the world visited Indiana, including touring a family farm, on Sept. 25.

Isabella Chism, American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership chair and American Farm Bureau Federation board member, hosted the group alongside her family.

The family shared the farm’s history with guests. The diplomats explored the farm and asked questions about technology and growing practices.

The group bonded over a meal including pork chops grilled by Cass County Pork Producers, corn bread made from sweet corn from the farm, milk from Kemps Dairy, the family’s favorite persimmon pudding and other delicious foods.

At the end of the evening, a gentleman from Spain took Chism’s hand and said, “Thank you. You and your family have shown us that all farmers have the same heart — a heart for the land, a heart for their family and a heart for community. Your legacy is powerful.”

Lilly Boxell, Chism’s 11-year-old granddaughter, learned what farming looks like in other countries.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “I learned that some people hadn’t ridden in a tractor before, and that amazed me. I learned where some countries were, like Chile, and then the next week I started learning and having tests in school about where those countries were.

“It is very important because you can make friendships and help each other keep a strong community.”

Hunter Boxell, 13, said that international relationships are important to Indiana agriculture.

“It can help improve trade,” he said. “You get to know others from around the world and their methods of trade and growing crops. Sharing ideas helps us all grow to get better.”

Chism shared more about the tour with AgriNews.

Q: What was the impetus for inviting diplomats from other countries to your farm?

A: Eight years ago, I met the Hungarian agriculture attaché and stayed in touch whenever I was in Washington, D.C. Two years ago, I met Silke Bogar, European Union agriculture attaché, at our American Farm Bureau Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. She introduced me to Sonja from Canada and Brenda from Mexico. We have become friends.

This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped funding the AA state agriculture trips. They would choose a state, plan farm and industry tours. My AA friends decided to coordinate a self-funded trip to Indiana.

As we were talking over dinner in D.C., they made me aware of their plans. I offered our farm for a tour and dinner if it fit their itinerary. They quickly accepted the invitation.

Beyond this it is our family’s belief that when we are open to others, we all learn. When we learn, we understand better and can serve in a greater capacity with broader impact.

Q: What activities and discussions did you have during this experience?

A: We began the afternoon in our shop with introductions. Then we told our generational farm story through pictures and stories, emphasizing each generation’s role in growing the farm, diversifying, not losing the farm during the Depression and acreage and technology growth.

We then broke into two groups to rotate through different information centers. Kent, my husband, led the discussion of harvest at the combine for visualization and talked about using soil maps and yield maps for information in decision-making.

Josh Boxell, our son-in-law, led the technology application and drone use discussions. I talked about our choice to grow high-oleic soybeans and what that requires. I took them inside the grain bin.

Hunter and Chad Chism, our son, took them on tractor rides to show the use of GPS guidance.

Beth Boxell, our daughter, talked about the value of joining with Farm Bureau to provide agriculture-accurate education in the schools and at farmers markets. We allowed questions at any time. We then met back together in the shop for Q&A.

When that ended we enjoyed a meal together. Beth and I prepared the meal and we had two friends serve so we could be 100% present with our guests.

Q: Do you think international relationships are important in agriculture? If so, why?

A: International relationships are absolutely important to agriculture. The ability to trade with other countries is vital.

Trade provides opportunities to sell our products to new outlets and allows us to enjoy foods we either don’t grow here or are out of season. When it is all said and done we live in a global community.

When we strive for understanding we open the door to better communication, which in turn should lead to greater trust. And we know where trust exists many things can be accomplished.

Q: What skills have come in handy when it comes to forging political relationships and discussions?

A: Reception skills, communication skills, especially listening to understand, and networking skills. Many relationships begin at a reception, but it is up to us to be intentional about building our networks by staying in contact with those connections.

This farm visit is a prime example. My story is unique and that helps in the international setting, as well. I am a naturalized citizen that came to the United States at age 6 from Austria.

Q: What’s something you learned or observed during your time with these diplomats?

A: These diplomats are truly interested in learning and understanding. By opening our farm and family to them we became comfortable enough to have difficult discussions in a productive way. We discussed GMOs and subsidies to name a couple.

Q: What advice would you give to other farmers who are interested in being involved in these types of events?

A: Do it. If you have a positive attitude, want others to understand and want to understand their beliefs you will have a successful event. Be yourself.

You are the expert on your farm’s story. Be proud of it and share it confidently. They don’t want a college professor class. They want reality.