Menu

Roger and Diane Baker of Wayne County recently found themselves playing ambassadors for agriculture when a delegation of Central and South American leaders visited their farm.

The international visitors were in Ohio as part of a trip to the United States to learn more about what Americans thought about the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Because they had read about Wayne County considering establishing a free trade zone, they wanted to visit a farm and get a farmer’s reaction to various trade agreements and how they impact commodity prices and other issues.

John Fitzpatrick, Farm Bureau organization director for Ashland, Medina and Wayne counties, was asked to find a farm for the international visitors to see, and he contacted the Bakers, who readily, but nervously, agreed. The international delegation included economists, university professors, business leaders and media from Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. There also were interpreters from the U.S. State Department.

The Bakers welcomed the group to their farm Nov. 11 with Colombian coffee and baked items.

Roger Baker talked about how his grain and hay operation works and how he manages it to control costs. He explained that his understanding of the various trade agreements is that they were eventually leading to the elimination of tariffs and subsidies and that he was changing his business as needed and increasing his efficiency to remain competitive in a global market.

After he spoke and answered questions, Baker became choked up with emotion while describing how he is proud to be a farmer. Maria Taboada, of Peru, was so touched by the presentation that she presented Diane with a silver pin with the ancient Andean god of agricultural fertility depicted on it. She explained that the Baker farm was the first place she had encountered a "true human experience" during her visit to the United States. She also planned to see if the Bakers could visit Peru to speak with others.

Catalina Silesky Rodriguez, of Costa Rica, said the farm visit was the highlight of her trip, which included stops in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. She said she came on the trip thinking all U.S. farmers were wealthy and greedy but realized her impressions were wrong after meeting the Bakers.

"It was pretty humbling to be invited to Peru," Roger Baker said. "It was the most unbelievable experience I think I’ve ever had."

Caption: Roger Baker explains how his bale wrapper works to a group of international visitors. (Photo credit to Wooster Daily Record.)