In this powerful episode of Wheat’s On Your Mind, Peter Laudeman of U.S. Wheat Associates and Justin Gilpin of Kansas Wheat take listeners on a firsthand journey through East and Southern Africa, where U.S.-grown wheat becomes a lifeline for hundreds of thousands. 
From witnessing heartbreaking ration cuts at the Kakuma refugee camp near the South Sudan border to observing port logistics in Mombasa, they share stories that illuminate the vital role American wheat plays in global food aid. 
Their reflections are both emotional and eye-opening, connecting Kansas farmers to the faces and lives their wheat feeds across the world.

But the journey doesn't stop there. 
In Lesotho, the pair unexpectedly find themselves amid diplomatic conversations following a major U.S. tariff announcement, turning their visit into a lesson on the complex intersection of trade, aid, and agricultural diplomacy. 
They wrap up their mission in Cape Town at the Sub-Saharan Buyers Conference, where the conversation shifts to future market opportunities for hard red winter wheat. 
Whether you're a grower, policy enthusiast, or just curious about the global reach of Kansas wheat, this episode offers rare insight into the human impact of agricultural exports and the critical need for strong, stable food aid programs.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro and guest overview
01:00 – Purpose of the African food aid journey
02:50 – Why Kenya was chosen for the visit
05:00 – Justin Gilpin’s reflections on visiting refugee camps
07:00 – Inside Kakuma refugee camp and food distribution challenges
08:30 – Mombasa port operations and U.S. wheat logistics
10:15 – Economic ripple effect of U.S. wheat exports
12:00 – Explaining Food for Peace, and. Food for Progress
14:00 – Policy shifts and the push for USDA program leadership
16:00 – Reality of multi-generational refugee life
19:45 – Lesotho visit and unexpected diplomatic attention
24:00 – Sub-Saharan buyers’ conference in Cape Town
26:30 – Reassuring customers amid tariff and trade turbulence
28:00 – Farewell to Peter Laudeman and closing remarks

Kansas Wheat
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