Iowa's Influence On China Goes Beyond Terry Branstad

November 03, 2017 | The Des Moines Register

Kyle Munson, Kelsey Kremer

Rick Kimberley, farmer from Maxwell, Iowa, Qu Dongyu, China's Vice Minister of Agriculture and Terry Branstad, US Ambassador to China, break ground for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China. The farm in China will be modeled after Kimberley's farm in Iowa.

A demonstration of a Vermeer corn stalk baler is given during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer.

Ambassador Terry Branstad and Hebei Party Secretary, Zhao Kezhi walk together through the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer.

A man walks between a John Deere combine and tractor on display during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Kelsey Kremer.

Ambassador Terry Branstad's granddaughters Stella, in the foreground, and Sofia Costa play at the edge of a corn field during the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer.

The China-US Demonstration Farm foundation stone is draped in red for the farm's groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Ambassador Terry Branstad and Rick Kimberley, an Iowa farmer, talk on stage during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China. The farm in China will be modeled after Kimberley's farm in Maxwell. Image by Kelsey Kremer. Iowa, 2017.

Rick Kimberley, a farmer from Maxwell, Iowa, walks across the stage to speak during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China. The farm in China will be modeled after Kimberley's farm. Image by Kelsey Kremer. Iowa, 2017.

Rick Kimberley, a farmer from Maxwell, Iowa, gives a speech during the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China. The farm in China will be modeled after Kimberley's farm. Image by Kelsey Kremer. Iowa, 2017.

Ambassador Terry Branstad gives a speech during the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017

Ambassador Terry Branstad and his wife Chris Branstad bring their granddaughters, Stella and Sofia Costa with them to the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Ambassador Terry Branstad speaks with people attending the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Ambassador Terry Branstad and his family pose for a photo on the China-US Demonstration Farm during its groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China.

People gather to get a photo of the Branstad family during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Chris Branstad talks with her granddaughters Stella and Sofia Costa while attending the groundbreaking ceremony of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Hebei Party Secretary, Zhafo Kezhi and Ambassador Terry Branstad walk together through the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Ambassador Terry Branstad, Rick Kimberley, and other distinguished guests are given a tour of John Deere implements on display during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Grant Kimberley, market development director of the Iowa Soy Bean Association and farmer from Maxwell, Iowa, gives an interview during the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei, China.The farm in China will be modeled after the Kimberley family farm in Iowa. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Two men take a look inside a John Deere combine on display during the groundbreaking ceremony or the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

John Deere implements on display during the groundbreaking ceremony for the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Among the mountains of rural China, a collection of people from China and Iowa gather for the groundbreaking of the China-US Demonstration Farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Luanping County, Hebei. Image by Kelsey Kremer. China, 2017.

Des Moines Register journalists Kyle Munson and Kelsey Kremer traveled to China for two weeks in late September to report on Iowa’s unlikely and often influential role in U.S-China relations.

Amb. Terry Branstad, Iowa’s former governor, recently began his work in Beijing. This month he welcomes President Donald Trump to China to address the nuclear threat from North Korea and promote U.S. trade.

The project will be published in six chapters and can be followed at DesMoinesRegister.com/China.

This short documentary feature from Kremer introduces some of the people and places you'll see throughout the series.