I’d like to share a story with you. A while back, I had the pleasure of accompanying Benard Wabukala to the farm of my dear friend, Jon Peterson, to observe the corn harvest. Jon’s farm is south of Winterset, in Madison County, Iowa. Benard was a Fulbright Scholar from Kampala, Uganda, and was a guest lecturer at Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa, in the College of Business and Public Administration. He was visiting for a semester as a lecturer in Economics. Ben’s home institution is Makerere University Business School in Kampala. His project, while in America, was:
Scholar-in-Residence: Analyses of Food Security in Uganda; Implications for Agricultural Policy Support in Sub-Saharan Africa
On the day I drove Ben to Winterset, I was accompanied by Jon’s wife, Vicky Daniel and her friend, Barbara Barnes. Jon and the crew were hard at work harvesting corn when we arrived. Ben was most interested in the corn harvest, particularly the machinery used.
Jon plants his own corn and uses Jason and Tanner Rowe of Rowe Farms to combine the corn and transport it to the elevator. Jason operated the combine while Tanner drove the tractor pulling the wagon and followed the combine.
Jon, Jason and Tanner were all extremely gracious in not only allowing Ben to ride along for most of the morning, but in having an in depth discussion of the contrasting farming practices in Uganda and Iowa. Even though they were separated by half a globe, they were brought together by their love of farming. Farmers exchanging ideas and talking about farming.
They determined that from a technology standpoint, Uganda is about three generations behind in farming and production practices from those in the United States. There was quite an amazing discussion taking place. I was able to get some wonderful photos of the excursion.
Ben said “I massively enjoyed myself on the farm. Most importantly, I have taken a special package of knowledge with me that could transform peasantry farming in Uganda to commercialized levels someday. In Africa, we say ‘Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others.'”
There were two bonuses for Ben, and for all of us as well. Ben said that Ugandans are quite familiar with American movies, and particularly John Wayne, who was born in Winterset, Iowa. As such, I got a great photo of Ben in front of the huge John Wayne statue on the site of the planned museum in Winterset.
And to cap off the day, Ben was able to have his very first experience with snow. Flurries started just as we pulled out of Winterset to drive back to Des Moines and for a while, it was really coming down. I finally pulled the car over and told Ben that he couldn’t just experience this through the window of a car. He had to get out in it. What a joy it was to witness his first touch of snow. When he got back into the car, he announced that he just had his baptism with snow!
What an awesome day!
Tom: Most humbled by this narrative! I feel so lucky that I am the focus in this beautiful piece of experience and pictures. My family has had the pleasure to see for themselves, what I have continually told them about agricultural modernization. I have used the same pictures for my teaching of Development Economics back home in Uganda. Students have felt the practical illustration of the type of agriculture that I constantly make reference to. Adverse Climate effects are here with us now and we need to elevate agriculture to sustainable hieghts. Uganda is still miles away from such agricultural standards but it is these experiences that motivate Ugandans to think more broadly and innovatively. To be succinct, this article and all your efforts are exceedingly appreciated. Please send me a note to the email address below for extended chat. I will be coming in February 2017 with a group of students from my university on their “service learning abroad” and would wish to visit Jon’s farm. He can tell us about the storage of agricultural produce and more. Your friend, Ben.