| Notes |
The Des Moines Register 07/17/1999:
President Clinton came to Iowa on Friday to make a passionate plea for his school reconstruction program and to raise a little political money for an ally, Sen. Tom Harkin. The president had little to say publicly about the farm crisis buffeting the state, although he met privately with a group of farmers to talk about it.
Farm Problems
During his speech at the school, Clinton made only a passing reference to Iowa’s farm problems."There are still a lot of places in the country that aren’t participating in the economic recovery," he said. "The big problem on the farm is we’ve had four years in a row of a worldwide record harvest for the first time in our history. And an economic collapse in 1997 in Asia." As a result, "prices collapse," he said.
A heckler shouted "Freedom to Farm" at Clinton, a reference to a bill Congress passed and he signed that ended many subsidy programs.
"Exactly right," Clinton said.
"The people who put in that Freedom to Farm Act acted like there would never be a bad year on the farm," he said. While offering no details, he said, "We’re working on it."
After the school visit, the president met with Harkin, Gov. Tom Vilsack, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge and Iowa farmers to talk about the farm crisis. Clinton heard about specific farmers’ woes. Aides said the president did not offer promises.
According to the White House, Clinton met with John Whittaker, president of the Iowa Farmers Union; Wendy Wintersteen of the Iowa State Agricultural Farm Credit office; Glen Rowe, a former president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association; Mary Krier, who farms with her husband near Sigourney; Craig Hill, a member of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation board; Richard Mahacek, a farmer and cattle producer; and Doug Thompson, a corn and soybean farmer.
Iowa and Missouri Alumni: Each year, Cultural Homestay International host families welcome students from 39 different countries. Many of our students report that the semester or academic year they spent in America, “Changed my life.”
Five years ago, during CHI’s first year active in the Midwest, Polish student Edyta Wedolowicz came to live with Bev and Glen Rowe’s family near Dallas Center, Iowa, and to attend Dallas Center-Grimes High School. Edyta quickly became part of her host family, and participated in cheerleading and art club at school. She made friends and won hearts! After returning to Poland, Edyta came back for a semester to study at Central College in Pella, Iowa, and then completed her studies in Poland. She recently wrote to Area Program Administrator Diane Findlay to bring Diane up to date on her life. Edyta is now married, working as a dental assistant in Poland, and mother to a darling daughter. (Edyta, husband Jakub and daughter Julia pictured left). Edyta sends “best wishes for your future success with kids from all over the world,” and “best regards to all whom I met in Iowa.”
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1947 - (76 years)
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