The Iowa Economic Development Authority held its annual International Dinner on June 3 at the Gordon Wassenaar farm near Prairie City.

Visitors from 13 countries including Brazil, China, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam attended the dinner to get a close-up look at an Iowa farm, learn more about U.S. agriculture and enjoy an Iowa meal. A total of 230 people participated in the event, sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Soybean Association.

The Iowa Beef Industry Council provided the meal for this year’s event. IPPA is scheduled to provide a pork dinner next year.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation arranged for the Korean delegation to tour pork packing and processing facilities in Marshalltown, Ottumwa and Des Moines during their stay. The guests visited a sow facility and got their first shower-in, shower-out experience. The Iowa State University Meat Lab conducted a three-hour seminar for the Koreans. The visitors also attended the World Pork Expo.

World Pork Expo officials reported people from more than 40 countries attended this year’s expo.

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