California rice farmer Peter Rystrom suits up for the U.S. rice industry
Mar 15, 2024
CHICO, CA – I knew that a goal of the Rice Leadership Development Program was to prepare us as leaders, to work together with the intent to impact positive outcomes nationally, but it wasn’t until the trip to Washinton, DC, last month that I saw that fully in action.
Our class first met at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters on Monday morning. Our host, Adolfo Escoto, introduced us to the economists and staff from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) that handle rice statistics and analysis. We also heard from economist Nathan Childs, with the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), who demonstrated an incredibly intimate knowledge of our industry. I had not fully appreciated just how much pride our government, and particularly the USDA, takes in collecting reliable data for the benefit of its citizens and businesses.
From the USDA HQ on the National Mall, we traveled across the Potomac River to the Arlington, Virginia, offices of USA Rice. After seeing many of their names pop up in emails and conversations, it was wonderful to finally meet the staff members in person. My respect really grew for the work they are doing behind the scenes on behalf of our industry.
Our next stop was the Canadian Embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue. Sonja Frohberg and Christine McKee led us to the rooftop where we had spectacular views of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. This visit was a highlight of the trip for me as they walked us through many trade crises scenarios that ranged from comical to serious. I found myself feeling grateful for having neighboring countries like Canada who are committed to facilitating trade and an interconnected market. I also loved hearing their candid thoughts on living in a foreign country and comparing the two cultures.
Tuesday was a busy day of meetings beginning with the World Market Price meeting, where representatives from each state weighed in on acre and yield projections. Next, we had the joy of graduating! Julie Richard spoke on behalf of our class, communicating the gratitude and responsibility we all felt with this program investment. After lunch, many of the USDA economists we met the day before sat down to talk with us, and it was encouraging to see such openness to input and suggestions our industry had for their organization.
We spent the evening at a reception at the Washington Nationals baseball stadium, which was only a few blocks away. This was a great blend of folks from Ducks Unlimited, USA Rice, and Secretaries of Agriculture from states all across the country. Like many things in this program, that event helped open my eyes to just how diverse and varied our agricultural family is in this country.
On Wednesday, our eyes were opened to the democratic process at work. We each headed out with members from our home states to visit the offices of lawmakers where we touched on topics that are important to rice farmers in our respective states. I was even able to chime in about a couple of the environmental programs our industry is initiating. I understand better now just how important it is to have a seat at the table during policy discussions in Washington, and to be a voice for our industry.
The USA Rice Leadership Development Program has been an incredible learning experience for me. From the support of The Rice Foundation and Dr. Steve Linscombe to all of the alumni and educators who contributed, I want to say a sincere ‘thank you.’ The time you have poured into this program is going to pay dividends.
I’d also like to personally thank John Deere, the American Commodity Company, and RiceTec for the financial contributions made to this program. We felt important and valued when each of you hosted us at your respective facilities.
As a leader and as a person, I feel much more prepared to participate in the hard work of leading in our industry now that our two-year stint is completed. The friendships and connections I’ve built from this program are strong, and I look forward to working through complex problems side by side with my classmates in the future.