Xi put one Iowa farm on the map

A 2012 visit by China's then VP has left a lasting impression on a 4,000-acre farm

Rick Kimberly, an Iowa farmer who runs 4,000 acres about 20 miles outside of the state capital of Des Moines, has become a celebrity farmer of sorts, thanks to a visit to his homestead by then Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping in February 2012.

In his modest one-story farm house, Kimberly warmly welcomed a few Chinese guests on March 28, apologizing for the absence of his wife, Martha, due to a work engagement.

The guests were immediately drawn to an oil painting prominently displayed on a fireplace mantle in the living room. The painting depicts the meeting of Xi and Kimberly in the room five years ago.

"I was given this as a gift when I visited Beijing a couple of years ago," Kimberly beamed.

The Chinese guests were part of a small business delegation led by Zhao Zhenge, US general representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. They were in Iowa looking for investment opportunities.

Below the painting, is a large ceramic vase with a Chinese inscription - a gift from Xi. Kimberly picked up the vase to show his guests.

That visit by Xi five years ago was widely reported by major US media, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, as well as Chinese media. It linked Kimberly Farm to China in a way its owner never imagined. He put some of the news reports into an album for guests to browse.

"When President Xi came and talked to us, he's very knowledgeable about agriculture. He thinks highly of people that live on the farm. He wants to help them to have a better life," Kimberly recalled to his guests.

"He mentioned that he wanted to use our farm as a model for farmers in China. We are happy to help in any way we can," said Kimberly.

Xi's wish is becoming a reality. Kimberly has signed agreements with Chengde of Hebei province and Lishu of Jilin province to build two modern model farms based on his farm, and is negotiating a third one.

"Two weeks ago, we had the development company from China visit here. They measured everything, even diagramed my house. From what I understand, they will make the model farm a place to have exhibits and conferences related to agricultural equipment and techniques," Kimberly said.

"We are proud of it," Kimberly said, well aware that his family-named farm is akin to becoming a brand name in China.

On the a counter in the kitchen next to the living room, a pamphlet of 10-plus pages in English and Chinese details Xi's visit, Kimberly Farm's history and numerous visits to China made by Kimberly and his wife Martha.

Kimberly Farm gets a lot of visitors, and Rick Kimberly appears to be prepared for it.

He doesn't keep a log of visitors, but estimates that hundreds of Chinese have visited his farm every year since Xi's visit, and more have visited this year after Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was nominated by US President Donald Trump as ambassador to China and due to the upcoming model-farm projects in China.

Some visitors are Chinese students from universities and high schools in the state, Kimberly said.

He and his wife made trips to China after Xi's visit. Their seventh visit is scheduled for June after finishing crop planting.

"We enjoy that kind of person to person interaction to build relationships. We certainly look forward to making more trips," said Kimberly.

When this week's meeting between Xi and Trump in Florida was mentioned, Kimberly was full of optimism.

"It will be a great meeting." he said.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com