| Iowa Sister States
| Iowa Sister States
Our Administration
Iowa Sister States is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization based in Des Moines, Iowa. We strive to build sustainable international partnerships that connect Iowans to the world community. Iowa has a powerful history of citizen diplomacy, and our dedicated volunteers and staff are proud to continue this legacy.
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We manage the State of Iowa's official relationships with our seven international partners: |
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Ukraine
Cherkasy Oblast |
China
Hebei Province |
Kosovo
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Italy
Veneto Region |
Japan
Yamanashi Prefecture |
Mexico
Yucatán |
In 1996, Cherkasy Oblast, located in the heart of Ukraine, entered into a partnership with the State of Iowa. Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa and Governor Vasyl Tsybenko of Cherkasy established the partnership by signing an agreement. The relationship has resulted in several professional, educational, and cultural exchanges.
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| Kenn YuCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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In 1983, Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa and Governor Zhang Shuguang of Hebei signed an agreement formalizing the relationship. Many exchanges have taken place over the years, including the famous Xi trip to Iowa that took place in 1985. In 2012, a then-Vice President Xi traveled again to Iowa to meet his “Old Friends", writing this letter commemorating the occasion. A well-known outcome of this 1985 visit is the placement of Iowa’s former Governor, Terry Branstad, to the post of US Ambassador to China.
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| Dr. Will ZhangCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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Kosovo is Iowa’s newest sister state. Former Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, signed the agreement in 2013 with Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga.
The relationship blossomed out of the State Partnership Program established between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force. Adjutant Major General Timothy Orr played a key role in promoting the partnership to sister state status.
Three cities in Kosovo have established sister city relationships with cities in Iowa. The city of Peja entered into a sister city relationship with Johnston, Iowa in 2013. In 2016, Fort Dodge signed a sister city agreement with Gjakova in Kosovo. The City of Vushtrri recently entered into a sister city relationship with Norwalk, Iowa. There are also a few other cities in Iowa that are in the process of becoming sister cities.
The activity between Iowa and Kosovo is so robust that the Republic of Kosovo opened its first US Consulate in Des Moines in February of 2016. This was also the first foreign consulate for the State of Iowa.
Kosovo is Iowa’s newest sister state. Former Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, signed the agreement in 2013 with Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga.
The relationship blossomed out of the State Partnership Program established between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force. Adjutant Major General Timothy Orr played a key role in promoting the partnership to sister state status.
Three cities in Kosovo have established sister city relationships with cities in Iowa. The city of Peja entered into a sister city relationship with Johnston, Iowa in 2013. In 2016, Fort Dodge signed a sister city agreement with Gjakova in Kosovo. The City of Vushtrri recently entered into a sister city relationship with Norwalk, Iowa. There are also a few other cities in Iowa that are in the process of becoming sister cities.
The activity between Iowa and Kosovo is so robust that the Republic of Kosovo opened its first US Consulate in Des Moines in February of 2016. This was also the first foreign consulate for the State of Iowa.
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| Todd JacobusCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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In 1989, Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa and Governor Chiu Chuang-huan of Taiwan signed the Iowa-Taiwan Friendship Agreement.
Taiwan has been a trusted friend and important trading partner for Iowa over the years. During the floods of 1993, Ambasasdor Mou Shih Ding of Taiwan personally delivered a gift of $100,000 to aid flood-ravaged Iowa families.
Since then there has been a steady exchange in students and ideas between the two sister-states, reaffirming the bond between Iowa and Taiwan.
In 1989, Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa and Governor Chiu Chuang-huan of Taiwan signed the Iowa-Taiwan Friendship Agreement.
Taiwan has been a trusted friend and important trading partner for Iowa over the years. During the floods of 1993, Ambasasdor Mou Shih Ding of Taiwan personally delivered a gift of $100,000 to aid flood-ravaged Iowa families.
Since then there has been a steady exchange in students and ideas between the two sister-states, reaffirming the bond between Iowa and Taiwan.
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| Tim NGCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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The Veneto Region of Italy entered into a sister state relationship with the state of Iowa through an official agreement signed by Governor Terry Branstad and Assessore Pierluigi Bolla in December of 1997.
The Veneto Region is located in northeast Italy and extends from the Adriatic Sea to the Dolomites. This relationship has resulted in a variety of exchanges over the years.
Veneto exchanges have included food, sports, art, students and so much more!
The Veneto Region of Italy entered into a sister state relationship with the state of Iowa through an official agreement signed by Governor Terry Branstad and Assessore Pierluigi Bolla in December of 1997.
The Veneto Region is located in northeast Italy and extends from the Adriatic Sea to the Dolomites. This relationship has resulted in a variety of exchanges over the years.
Veneto exchanges have included food, sports, art, students and so much more!
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| Andrea BaruttaCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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In 1959, a typhoon devastated Yamanashi Prefecture. In response, Iowa sent 35 breeding hogs and 100,000 bushels of corn to help with the recovery – an event that is famously known today as the Iowa Hog Lift. (Further information about the Iowa/Yamanashi Hog Lift can be found in this 1988 account by Michael E. Delaney.)
Yamanashi and Iowa would become Sister States in 1960 by a formal agreement, signed between Governor Norman Erbe of Iowa and Governor Hisashi Amano of Yamanashi. This agreement marked Iowa's very first Sister State relationship.
The people of Yamanashi and Iowa continue to grow and nurture this relationship. Over the years there have been exchanges in students, nursing, agriculture, young professionals and even bacon! The list of exchanges is endless and it continues to grow.
In 1959, a typhoon devastated Yamanashi Prefecture. In response, Iowa sent 35 breeding hogs and 100,000 bushels of corn to help with the recovery – an event that is famously known today as the Iowa Hog Lift. (Further information about the Iowa/Yamanashi Hog Lift can be found in this 1988 account by Michael E. Delaney.)
Yamanashi and Iowa would become Sister States in 1960 by a formal agreement, signed between Governor Norman Erbe of Iowa and Governor Hisashi Amano of Yamanashi. This agreement marked Iowa's very first Sister State relationship.
The people of Yamanashi and Iowa continue to grow and nurture this relationship. Over the years there have been exchanges in students, nursing, agriculture, young professionals and even bacon! The list of exchanges is endless and it continues to grow.
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| Cindy HicksCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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The Iowa-Yucatán Partners of the Americas was established on September 24, 1965 by a group of business and civic leaders in Des Moines, who met with then-Governor Harold Hughes. After this meeting, Governor Harold Hughes decided that Iowa and Yucatán should be a sister state.
The state of Yucatán was chosen as Iowa's partner because of its henequen production, which is used to produce baler and binder twine. Because of Iowans' use of these products when harvesting oats and hay crops, our two economies are very intertwined.
Although the partnership began from agricultural roots, it has grown to be so much more than that. Iowans and citizens of Yucatán continue to explore different ways they can help benefit both communities. This was flourished into projects to stop hunger, language immersions, and transfer of music and knowledge.
IOWA-YUCATAN PARTNERS OF THE AMERICAS >
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YUCATAN PARTNERS DOWNLOADABLES:
YUCATAN MEETING MINUTES:
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| Jeff WilsonCOUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR
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How We Benefit Iowa
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| Become a Citizen Diplomat
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Iowans are kind, hardworking, and generous. We are also successful, smart, and savvy. All of this and more is what makes the term "Iowa Nice" a reality. It also makes is prime candidates to be citizen diplomats. Citizen diplomats are the foundation of Iowa Sister States and are key to keeping us a leader in our field. People-to-people exchanges change the world by changing one person at a time. |
