Celebrating An International Bond Between 2 Cities In Des Moines

Des Moines IA

23 January, 2021

2:19 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Des Moines: January 22, 2021 Des Moines, Iowa – Friday, January 22, 2021 – The Iowa Corn Growers' Association, Iowa Pork Producers, the Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Sister States, Des Moines' Sister Cities, and Mayor Cownie's office are teaming up for a holiday gift to our Japanese sister city. Symbolic gifts are shipping to the city of Kofu, Japan, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Iowa's goodwill 'Hog Lift' that strengthened cultural and regional ties between Japan and Iowa. Gifts include: 60 corn kernel hats and stuffed toy animal pigs will be gifted to the pediatric wing of a local Kofu children's hospital. Copies of Lori Erickson's children's book "Sweet Corn and Sushi" that commemorates the cultural event will be distributed to key contacts throughout Kofu. Lori Erickson's video reading her book will be distributed by local libraries, the State Historical Society, and the Farm Bureau. The State Historical Society is creating a web page with activities to help educate local youth on the historic event. In 1959 devastating typhoons destroyed much of the livestock industry in Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture. Upon hearing this, Iowa native Master Sergeant Richard Thomas pitched the 'Hog Lift' idea while working in public relations with the U.S. Air Force in Tokyo. Iowa farmers donated 36 lean meat hogs rounded up by the Iowa Corn Growers' Association, and the U.S. Air Force agreed to supply a plane to fly the hogs to Japan. The animals were shipped on a cargo plane fitted with special crates and attended to by representatives from the Iowa Corn Growers' Association. As COVID-19 has paused travel and lessened the cultural exchanges between our communities, the team developed a plan to celebrate this iconic anniversary in Iowa history and bring the Des Moines and Kofu communities together during a difficult time. Hog Lift Facts In 1960, 36 hogs donated by Iowa farmers were flown from Iowa to Japan. Today, most of the pork raised in Japan has a genetic connection to Iowa as a result of the 1960 hog lift. A children's book titled "Sweet Corn and Sushi" by Iowa author Lori Erickson was written to commemorate the event. This led to the 1960 establishment of the Grains Council and Japan's eventual position as the leading overseas consumer of U.S. feed grains. This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author's own.