8/14/2009 Ambassador leading Russian delegation for Khrushchev celebration
Full lineup of events for 50th anniversary of Soviet premier's visit to Coon Rapids
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev (left) and Roswell “Bob” Garst admire ears of corn during Khrushchev’s visit to Garst’s Coon Rapids farm in September 1959.
SERGEY KISLYAK
Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak will be among the dignitaries helping Iowa celebrate the 50th anniversary of Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit.
The "Khrushchev in Iowa" observance will be held Aug. 27-30 and include a day of events at Coon Rapids, where Khrushchev came on the invitation of the Garst family.
Joining Kislyak, who was Russia's representative to NATO and ambassador to Belgium before becoming ambassador to the U.S. in September 2008, will be about 30 Russian agribusiness leaders, a delegation from Iowa's sister state of Stavropol and members of the Russian press.
American dignitaries will include Sen. Chuck Grassley, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, members of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, Khrushchev biographer William Taubman and Khrushchev's son Sergei, who became a naturalized citizen and is a professor at Brown University in Providence, R.I.
"Our event can provide a positive venue for renewed trade, diplomatic and exchange relations between the U.S. and Russian people," said Rachel Garst, co-chair of the committee planning the celebration. "We are trying to raise enough funds to put on a high-quality event and entertain our visitors in style."
"Khrushchev in Iowa" is being sponsored by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Syngenta, John Deere, Farmers Cooperative, Iowa Corn Growers and Iowa Farm Bureau. The committee has also received grants from humanities and arts organizations, including recent awards of $22,800 from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, $15,000 from the Timmerman Trust, $12,000 from Humanities Iowa and $5,000 from Bravo Des Moines.
Coon Rapids will host "Agricultural Progress Day" on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Entry of the Garst farm, where Khrushchev visited in September 1959, into the National Register of Historic Places will be celebrated at a ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Speakers will include Garst's daughter Antonia "Tosh" Lee, Sergei Khrushchev and Wes Jackson, president of the Kansas Land Institute.
The festivities will also include a parade at 1:30 p.m., speeches by dignitaries on Main Street at 2:30 p.m., performances of an original play on the Garst-Khrushchev friendship at 3:30 and 5 p.m., music on Main Street from 3:15 to 10 p.m., dedication of a public art piece by David Dahlquist, agricultural displays, historic film clips, even a Khrushchev and Garst look-alike contest.
The committee will also be filming and gathering recollections from those who were at the 1959 visit.
The committee is looking for volunteers to help at various events in Coon Rapids. Those interested can call April Schultes at 712-999-7031.
Also on the "Khrushchev in Iowa" schedule:
THURSDAY, AUG. 27
Taubman will speak about his book "Khrushchev: The Man and His Era" at Drake University in Des Moines.
FRIDAY, AUG. 28
Khrushchev in Iowa Conference at Hotel Fort Des Moines, with panel discussions entitled "Feeding a Hungry World: Agricultural Progress, Productivity and Sustainability" and "Citizen Diplomacy: U.S.-Russia Relations." Participants will include Kendall Lamkey, chairman of the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Ted Crosbie, vice president of global breeding for Monsanto; Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey; Russian agribusiness leaders; Sergei Khrushchev; Ted Townsend from the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy; and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Gartner.
Khrushchev in Iowa Banquet at Hotel Fort Des Moines. Participants will enjoy the same dishes served Khrushchev 50 years ago and a performance by Des Moines Metro Opera. Speakers will include Kislyak, Vilsack, Grassley and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.
SUNDAY, AUG. 30
"Faces of Iowa/Russia Connections" symposium and barbecue at Camp Dodge in Johnston. Speakers will include Gov. Chet Culver, Stavropol Deputy Gov. Georgy Efremov, Iowa National Guard Brig. Gen. Timothy Orr and Humanities Iowa chair Valentina Slater-Fominykh.
Registration and other information can be found at creatinggreatplaces.org.
