March 2019
Message From Amb. Kenneth Quinn on the Birth Anniversary of dr. norman e. borlaug
While Norman Borlaug’s legacy is centered on his heroic efforts to confront and overcome hunger in foreign lands, it is insightful to understand that his earliest time coming face to face with hunger was not in Mexico but in the streets of Minneapolis.
When we were together, Norm told me about how as a student at the University of Minnesota he first came face to face with the issues of hunger as he watched it manifest on the streets of the Twin Cities during the Great Depression. Seeing homeless, hungry people sleep in the streets was an image that remained with him even 70 years later.
Throughout his career, whether he was working in Minnesota, Mexico, India or Pakistan, Norm felt the same urge to push the needle further.
Where hunger was prevailing Norm always felt himself impacted by the devastating effects that inevitably accompanied it. It was what drove him and caused him to work diligently throughout his life on the issues of plant disease, as he harnessed his abilities with plant breeding to ensure his active participation in alleviating human suffering.
Years after Borlaug's initial experience with hunger took place in Minnesota, the World Food Prize was awarded in 2008 to two individuals with midwest roots for their work with school feeding programs, Bob Dole and George McGovern. Both men, who despite their difference in political views, were united by their desire to directly confront hunger.
It was when they received the World Food Prize in the House Chambers of the Iowa State Capitol that each spoke of his own personal experiences he had had as a young boy during the Depression. Like Borlaug, Dole recalled the hungry and the homeless who would knock on his front door in Kansas pleading to work for food. McGovern too had recollections of his life back in South Dakota and of his mother sharing the religiously grounded songs urging him to greatness through the uplifting of others.
As we look forward to the celebration of what would be Dr. Borlaug's 105th Birthday on March 25, remembering the journeys of these three midwestern heroes should encourage us all to be motivated by their great legacies.
If Borlaug was here today as we celebrate what would have been his Birthday he would say that the most critical thing is to support the public research that is so desperately needed to ensure that we have the innovations that will allow us to meet the greatest challenge the world has ever seen, nutritiously and sustainably feeding a world that will have nearly 10 billion people by 2050.
Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn (ret.)
President
The World Food Prize
CELEBRATING BORLAUG
March 25 | World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
Join the World Food Prize on March 25 as we celebrate the 105th anniversary of our founder Dr. Norman E. Borlaug’s birth. The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates will be open to the public for a day of FREE activities for all ages from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
You can enjoy a children's storytime, tour the building with the Iowa artists exhibited in our Iowa Gallery who have studied and painted Dr. Borlaug, hear from the sculptor who created the Dr. Borlaug Statue in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., explore our interactive educational exhibits about Dr. Borlaug, watch a riveting documentary about him, and view Howard G. Buffett's breathtaking international photography exhibit.
9:00 a.m. Docent Tour of the Hall of Laureates
Join the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates docents for a guided tour of the Hall of Laureates building.
9:30 a.m. Children’s Storytime: “The Boy Who Changed The World”
10:00 a.m. Docent Tour of the Hall of Laureates
Join the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates docents for a guided tour of the Hall of Laureates building.
11:30 a.m. Iowa Gallery Walk
Join the World Food Prize docents and learn about artwork in the Iowa Gallery.
Noon: Iowa Artist Gallery Talk
Featuring:
12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m. | Rose Frantzen, Iowa Gallery Artist
12:10 p.m. - 12:20 p.m. | Michael Brangoccio, Iowa Gallery Artist
12:20 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, President of the World Food Prize
12:30 p.m. Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Statue Artist Benjamin Victor Gallery Talk
Iowa Gallery
1:00 p.m. Film Screening: “Freedom From Famine: The Norman Borlaug Story”
Ruan Laureates Room
MUSEUMS for ALL
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a vibrant, 14-acre public garden in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Guided by a mission of exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants, the Botanical Garden cultivates a signature guest experience through progressive garden design and innovative programming.The Botanical Garden is a 501(c)(3) privately governed, not-for-profit institution.
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden now offers unlimited free admission for up to four people with the presentation of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) card and a valid form of photo ID.
Cardholders may receive free admission any time during the Garden’s regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Cardholders may check out a family pass to visit the Garden at no cost. In addition, Principal sponsors free admission for the Garden’s Downtown Earth Day Tour (April 20), Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Veterans Day.
For more details, visit
www.DMBotanicalGarden.com/
For more information, visit our website at www.IowaHungerSummit.org/APPLY
INAUGURAL 2019 BORLAUG DAY POSTER CONTEST
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The winning art piece will be revealed at the2019 Iowa Hunger Summit on Monday, October 14th and used as the focal point of the 2019 Borlaug Day poster. It will be shared with classrooms across our state to educate and inspire students to aspire to be Iowa's#NextNorm.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Submission Open Date: January 29, 2019
Submission Deadline: May 30, 2019
Decision Announced: July 1, 2019
Iowa Hunger Summit: October 14, 2019
More information can be found atwww.WorldFoodPrize.org/
UPCOMING EVENTS
2019 Community Food Systems Program Annual Event
Friday, March 29
Des Moines Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center
Des Moines Iowa
Harkin on Wellness Symposium
Wednesday, April 3
Parents Hall, Olmsted Center
2507 University Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
Chefs Take A Stand
Friday, April 5
Isle Casino Hotel
777 Isle of Capri Blvd
Waterloo, Iowa 50701
Child Nutrition Conference
Tuesday - Thursday, April 23 - April 25
Hyatt Regency Hotel
151 E Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601
2019 Iowa Youth Institute
Monday, April 29
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Heroes for Homeless
Wednesday, April 17
Hilton Des Moines Downtown
435 Park Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Be sure to let us know if you have an event coming up!
Submit event's to the Iowa Hunger Calendar Here!