Hermann
Advertiser-Courier AC Wednesday, June 11, 2008 20A
Chinese visitors experience hospitality at LaBoube Farm
By Don Kruse, Editor
Advertiser-Courier
A Chinese delegation traveling the United States a couple weeks ago
spent one day at LaBoube Farms south of Hermann, and Eddie LaBoube
organized a memorable event for them.
The trip to the Century Farm on Route H, in what is known as the
Little Berger area, was planned when Chinese-born Jianmin Zhao, who
works in research for Monsanto in its St. Louis facility, saw
LaBoube’s B&B website for the farm. He contacted LaBoube and
arranged the visit.
Zhao said the group was interested in touring a working farm, and
learning farming practices. The hospitality was an added bonus, he
said.
The six Chinese visitors, most of them involved in agriculture in
some way, were given a tour of the old LaBoube farm on May 27, and
asked a lot of questions. The property has been turned into a
B&B, but the land is still used for Eddie LaBoube’s farming
business. He has more than 150 head of cattle, and cuts hay off the
property.
Zhao said it was a most enjoyable stop on their trip to the U.S.,
which later included going to Hawaii. Their earlier stops were in
New York and Washington, D.C. After their stop in Hermann, they went
on
to Columbia to tour the University of Missouri.
“They learned a lot about how people manage a cattle farm here,” he
said. “In China, farms are not that large. This would be a large
farm there.”
Some families, Zhao said, have only two or three head of cattle on
two-thirds of an acre, with some sheep and chickens.
A walk to the back of the farm took them down a road that led to a
creek, surrounded by cattle grazing in fields.
“In China it is hard to find a place like this, so open,” said Zou
Liji, who is deputy mayor of Hengshui City in the Hebei province.
“This is a vacation place, so peaceful and beautiful.”
Zou Liji said his city has over 4 million people, and farms on the
outskirts are small.
Zhao said it would have been hard for the Chinese delegation to
imagine that feeling of what is considered a small Missouri farm
without visiting it. To them, it was a large farming operation, and
it was managed well, he said. “This is a unique visit on their
trip,” he said. “They learned what is the
Heartland of America.”
Eddie LaBoube’s 84-yearold mother also came over to serve as host to
the Chinese visitors, as did Ben and Darla Eggers of Paris, Mo. Ben
works for Sydenstricker Genetics of Mexico, Mo., and Darla for the
Missouri Cattleman’s Foundation Association.
“They’re family left a very good impression on us,” said Liji
through the group’s interpreter, who on this day was Zhao. “Hard
working, and also down to earth, really not wasting anything.”
The Chinese delegation was served lunch in a machine shed that was
cleared of tractors and other implements, and used by guests at the
B&B.
“This is a very natural setting. The air is fresh and wonderful,”
said Zhao. “It makes you feel really good and opens your eyes, it is
so peaceful.”
Zhao said the Chinese told him it was their best experience in the
U.S., and appreciated everything the LaBoubes did for them. They not
only learned about the operation of the farm, but were also
impressed by all the people they met.
“We will bring this type of feeling back to China, how we saw this
American experience,” said the mayor of Hengshui City.
Zhao followed up their visit with an email to LaBoube, saying “For
most of them, this is the most intimate interaction with an American
family.”
LaBoube also took the Chinese visitors to his new B&B down the road
near Hermann, “The Stone
Giraffe.” |
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