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Hoover-Wallace Dinner

2012 Hoover-Wallace Dinner Honoring Sec. Tom Vilsack and Gov. Terry Branstad

Monday, August 20, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

The seventh annual hoover-wallace dinner took place on Monday, August 20, 2012, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines, Iowa. The event honored both U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for their exceptional roles in promoting agriculture and agribusiness, particularly given their extraordinary and distinguished leadership in regard to the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in February. The dinner was held in conjunction with Jay Byers and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

To view this year's program, please click here. To view photos of the event, please click here.

About the Hoover-Wallace Dinner

The Hoover-Wallace Dinner was established in 2004 to recognize Iowa’s agricultural and humanitarian leaders and to honor Iowa’s agricultural and humanitarian heritage. The bi-partisan event is designed as an occasion where Iowans come together above political, social, ethnic and racial differences to celebrate Iowa’s legacy of feeding the world and alleviating human suffering.

The theme of the dinner is exemplified by the achievements of its namesake native Iowans: Former President Herbert Hoover, who arranged for the delivery of food to Europe during World War I, saving hundreds of millions of people from starvation; and former Vice-President Henry Wallace, whose agricultural innovations increased food availability and nutrition for millions. Proceeds from the event help fund the World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Internship Program.

Funds raised for Borlaug-Ruan International Internship Program

The last Hoover-Wallace Dinner raised $60,000 to support the World Food Prize’s Borlaug-Ruan International Internship Program, which has sent more than 140 Iowa high school students on eight-week, all-expenses-paid research assignments at renowned international institutions in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

This program aims to give students real-world scientific and global development experiences, where they see firsthand the challenges that confront us, learn from experts and gain valuable knowledge to launch their college studies and future careers.

Past Dinners - Hoover-Wallace Dinner honoring Senators Grassley and Harkin

Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley

The Sixth Annual Hoover-Wallace Dinner honored Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin. According to the senators’ staffs, it marked the first time in their political careers that Grassley and Harkin were honored together.

Among those who paid tribute to the senators were Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, Congressman Leonard Boswell, and Congressman Dave Loebsack. Also participating via video message were Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and former Iowa Governor Robert Ray.

The dinner recognized Senators Grassley and Harkin for their service to Iowa, the United States, and the world, and will highlight Grassley and Harkin’s bipartisan efforts in working together to serve the interests of Iowans since their elections to the U.S. Senate in 1980 and 1984, respectively.