Foreign diplomats visit Kokomo farm
The special guests eagerly awaited their turn to ride in a John Deere tractor Wednesday afternoon in rural Howard County.
One by one, they took a lap around a harvested sweetcorn field. The tractors were manned by some of the youngest on the farm, though the machinery drove themselves, thanks to GPS and technological advancements that are making farming more efficient.
Adam van Opzeeland took videos for his nephews back home while he rode the length of the field.
"It was great fun," he said. "I love big tractors."
Van Opzeeland is an agricultural attaché — diplomat — from New Zealand. He was among more than 20 diplomats from across the world who visited Chism Farms, a sixth-generation farm in northern Howard County.
They were invited by Isabella Chism, who along with her husband Kent represent the fifth generation of the family farm. Chism chairs the Women's Leadership Committee of the American Farm Bureau, an advocacy group for farm families.
PHOTOS: Chism Farm welcomes Diplomats
She invited the diplomats, a few of which she's known for years, to the farm.
"I want them to see what our farm is like," Chism said as she waited for the bus-load of diplomats to arrive.
Matt Worrell, from Australia, greeted the hosts with an apropos "G'day" as he stepped off the bus.
The diplomats represent their home countries in Washington, D.C., where they build relations with the United States and advocate for trade between countries. More than a dozen countries were represented Wednesday, including Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, the Philippines and Chile.
The afternoon started in a barn where the Chisms recounted their family farm's history, which dates to post-Civil War times. A TV screen showed drone footage of the family farming the fields.
"Please relax, feel like part of the family, that's why we invited you," Chism told the guests.
The group then split off to learn more about how the Chisms farm. They mostly grow corn, soybeans and sweetcorn.
Kent, standing in front of a 2012 John Deere S670 combine, talked about harvest — which is about to begin — along with how technology helps take care of the soil.
Chism Farms uses a computer system to divide every field into 2.5-acre grids. Soil samples are taken from each grid square to determine what sort of fertilizer the area needs. Kent explained how they use variable-rate fertilizer application, which is applying different amounts of fertilizer to different areas of the field, based on those soil samples.
The diplomats were impressed with the condition of the combine, which was washed, cleaned and ready to hit the fields. They asked about crop rotation, how much gas the combine holds and what crops come off first.
Van Opzeeland couldn't help but climb up the back of the combine to the hopper, and also sat in the driver's cab.
New Zealand's primary agriculture is dairy and beef. Dairy is a leading exporter for the country. The mountainous terrain and soil lends itself for perennial grasses, good for raising livestock.
"Trade is critically important to us," van Opzeeland said.
The New Zealand diplomat said he sees similarities between the family culture back home and farmers in America.
"I think people are always proud of their land," he said.
Trips like Wednesday's help in advocating for trade and policies in D.C.
"You can actually see it in practice," van Opzeeland said. "It helps add a human face and a family story to (policy)."
He said the most interesting part was learning about where soybeans go and how markets are different for different crops. Most of the soybeans grown by the Chisms go toward oils for foods. The corn is mostly for animal feed or Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey.
The other group of diplomats heard a little more about technology, such as how it makes farming more cost efficient. The groups rotated before meeting up at a grain bin. They got to go inside while Chism explained how a grain bin works.
The tour wrapped up with true Hoosier hospitality, a home-cooked meal.
There were grilled porkchops, cheesy potatoes, green beans, milk and cornbread made from corn grown by the Chism family. Most of the food was homemade and/or locally sourced.
"This is the best part of the job," said Brenda Martinez Vergara. "Who doesn't love being on a farm?"
Martinez Vergara is from the Mexican state Hidalgo. Due to its high elevation, Hidalgo is not subject to the pollution concerns that impact other parts of the country.
Martinez Vergara sat across a table from Sonja Frohberg, a diplomat from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Frohberg said there's value in seeing how crops are processed, how grain elevators work and understanding the diversity of what's grown in the United States.
"It's so helpful to bring that back with you to D.C.," she said.
The group travels to a couple different states each year to learn about farming in that area. The trips also bridge people and cultures.
"We're more alike than we are different," Frohberg said.
"Farmers, no matter where they're from, have the same worries," Martinez Vergara added.
Those worries?
Weather and prices.
