Agriculture Connects People Across Countries
Mar 16, 2026
By Carla Elliott, VP of Human Resources
As spring approaches and Iowa’s fields prepare for another season of growth, the work happening behind the scenes reminds us that agriculture is truly a global effort. Through the H‑2A program, people from different countries come together with U.S. farmers to support a goal they all share: producing the food and resources that sustain our communities.
For many international workers, participating in the H‑2A program is more than a seasonal job. It’s an opportunity to expand their skills, learn new technology, and experience agriculture on a different scale. From modern machinery to precision‑focused operations, they gain hands‑on experience that strengthens their careers and supports their families back home. Many return year after year, building long‑term relationships with the farms and communities they serve.
For farmers, the program offers something just as valuable: reliability. Spring planting is fast, weather‑dependent, and unforgiving. Having a dependable team ensures that fields are planted on time, equipment keeps moving, and essential work doesn’t fall behind. In an industry where timing is everything, the support of a skilled seasonal workforce can be the difference between a challenging season and a successful one.
But beyond the work itself, something meaningful happens: People connect. Cultures mix. Stories are shared in machine sheds, farm trucks, and rural communities.
The result is a partnership that benefits everyone involved. Farmers gain dedicated, knowledgeable workers during their busiest months. H‑2A employees gain experience, opportunity, and a pathway to growth. And together, they form bonds that cross borders—reminding us that agriculture has always been a bridge between people and places.
As new seeds go into the ground this spring, they symbolize more than a crop—they represent the collaboration, trust, and shared hope that unite people across countries through the work of agriculture.
As we look ahead to the busy months of spring, it’s important to recognize the people who make this work possible. Every employee—whether a long-time full-time team member, a valued local seasonal worker, or an H‑2A participant who travels great distances—plays a vital role in our success. Each person brings unique skills, dedication, and pride to the job, and together they create the foundation that keeps our operations strong. To all our employees, thank you for your commitment, your hard work, and the contributions you make every day. Your efforts ensure that our fields flourish, our communities thrive, and agriculture continues to grow for generations to come.
As spring approaches and Iowa’s fields prepare for another season of growth, the work happening behind the scenes reminds us that agriculture is truly a global effort. Through the H‑2A program, people from different countries come together with U.S. farmers to support a goal they all share: producing the food and resources that sustain our communities.
For many international workers, participating in the H‑2A program is more than a seasonal job. It’s an opportunity to expand their skills, learn new technology, and experience agriculture on a different scale. From modern machinery to precision‑focused operations, they gain hands‑on experience that strengthens their careers and supports their families back home. Many return year after year, building long‑term relationships with the farms and communities they serve.
For farmers, the program offers something just as valuable: reliability. Spring planting is fast, weather‑dependent, and unforgiving. Having a dependable team ensures that fields are planted on time, equipment keeps moving, and essential work doesn’t fall behind. In an industry where timing is everything, the support of a skilled seasonal workforce can be the difference between a challenging season and a successful one.
But beyond the work itself, something meaningful happens: People connect. Cultures mix. Stories are shared in machine sheds, farm trucks, and rural communities.
The result is a partnership that benefits everyone involved. Farmers gain dedicated, knowledgeable workers during their busiest months. H‑2A employees gain experience, opportunity, and a pathway to growth. And together, they form bonds that cross borders—reminding us that agriculture has always been a bridge between people and places.
As new seeds go into the ground this spring, they symbolize more than a crop—they represent the collaboration, trust, and shared hope that unite people across countries through the work of agriculture.
As we look ahead to the busy months of spring, it’s important to recognize the people who make this work possible. Every employee—whether a long-time full-time team member, a valued local seasonal worker, or an H‑2A participant who travels great distances—plays a vital role in our success. Each person brings unique skills, dedication, and pride to the job, and together they create the foundation that keeps our operations strong. To all our employees, thank you for your commitment, your hard work, and the contributions you make every day. Your efforts ensure that our fields flourish, our communities thrive, and agriculture continues to grow for generations to come.