Iowa Award Ceremony Honors Former Governor and Ambassador Terry Branstad

Presentation of the Iowa Award

• 🏆 The 26th Iowa Award ceremony honored former Ambassador to China and longest-serving Iowa Governor, Terry Branstad.
• 🌟 Governor Kim Reynolds presented the award, highlighting Branstad's extensive service and dedication to the state.
• 🙏 The ceremony began with a prayer expressing gratitude for Iowa's leaders, specifically honoring Branstad.

Terry Branstad's Public Service Career

• 🎖️ Branstad's career includes service as a military police officer during the Vietnam era, earning the Army Commendation Medal.
• 🏛️ He served as a state representative and lieutenant governor before becoming Iowa's 39th and 42nd governor, holding the record for the longest tenure in American history.
• 📈 During his governorship, he navigated the farm crisis, reduced unemployment, balanced the budget, and diversified the state's economy, particularly in the insurance sector.
• 🎓 Post-governorship, he served as president of De Moines University, increasing enrollment and tripling the scholarship fund.
• 🇨🇳 In 2017, he was appointed US Ambassador to China, leveraging his established relationship with President Xi Jinping to secure American interests, including the control of fentanyl.
• 🌍 He later became president of the World Food Prize Foundation, doubling its size and elevating its global standing.

Recognition and Personal Reflections

• 🤝 Governor Reynolds acknowledged Branstad's wife, Chris, for her unwavering support throughout his career.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Branstad expressed gratitude to his family, including his children and eight grandchildren, and acknowledged former administration members and executive assistants.
• 🧑‍🏫 He credited his parents and influential teachers for instilling values of education, work ethic, and public service.
• 🛣️ A special tribute included the dedication of a 36-mile stretch of Highway 9 in his honor, symbolizing his 36 years of public service and his commitment to improving the highway's safety.
• 🏅 Branstad expressed deep honor and humility in receiving the Iowa Award, joining a distinguished list of recipients, and thanked Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation.