Thursday, May 25, 2017
Today we went to the Henry A. Wallace house in Des Moines Iowa for an extravagant meal. We were able to actually sit outside the house as a group while all the other guest ate inside. When I first looked at the menu I could not believe my eyes. It was a fanfare of various farm fresh vegetables, and different recipes that I had not even heard of before. Before we ate we were serenaded by the hired entertainment for the night which was a guitarist. He came out to play some for use because he would be inside the rest of the night. He would actually make up song on the spot about South Carolina and coming home to the Carolinas which I thought was super cool. I could never make up music on the spot and just randomly ply it and sing like he did. Every single course of the meal was an adventure. The first course was a farm fresh vegetable sampler with various different vegetables grown at the Henry A. Wallace Farm. It was accompanied by a middle eastern seasoning mix along with grey French sea salt to dip the vegetables in. The vegetables were also accompanied with fresh bread with a minced garlic butter. Our main course was lamb and vegetable meatballs accompanied with root vegetables mixed with ab ancient grain. Desert was a strawberry rhubarb crisp with rhubarb ice cream.
While we ate the meal I could not stop thinking about Henry A. Wallace and the amazing influence he had on American Agriculture. Being able to eat a meal at his home was a great honor for not only myself but the entire group. Wallace was a man ahead of his time. Wallace saw the need for more efficient agriculture while at the same time protecting the soil and conserving the environment. Wallace also believed very much in giving back. This is why he made several trips to central and south America to teach advanced farming methods as a good will tour. I cannot think of a lot of vice presidents I know if that have made a good will tour.
I really wish that Henry Wallace could have become president and of led this country. Unfortunately, party politics usually wins. I am grateful however that Wallace was able to be both a Vice President of the United States, secretary of agriculture. Going to the Wallace center and learning more about Henry A. Wallace inspires me to pursue my goals in life while giving back and leaving the world better off than I left it.