Description
The article released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlights events of the 50th anniversary of the Iowa "hog lift" in Japan. Then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, visited Japan in honor of the famous hog lift of 1960, which was a rescue effort by the agriculture sector in Iowa following significant damage resulting from typhoons in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is widely believed that the hog lift was largely responsible for the development of the sister-state relationship between Iowa and Yamanashi, and marked the beginning of a strong agricultural relationship between Japan and the United States.
Transcript of the "Vilsack Comments 50th Anniversary..." Article
Source-Dependent Questions
- How many hogs did the Iowa send to Japan in 1959?
- Why did Iowa farmers send hogs to Japan?
- How many hogs did Kofu have after three years?
- Why did the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art have Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack help them plant an oak tree?
- Describe the symbolism of the oak tree planting. What was it supposed to represent?
- How can this document be used to describe the importance of Iowa agriculture on a global scale?
Citation Information
"Vilsack Commemorates 50th Anniversary of the Iowa 'Hog Lift' in Yamanashi," United States Department of Agriculture, 8 April 2010. Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture