State Department’s “Experience America” Visits Heifer Village

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 23, 2012) – Heifer International hosted a session of the Experience America trip with members of the Diplomatic Corps spouses Monday. The trip, organized by the State Department, brought more than 45 ambassadors and spouses representing countries on four continents to visit many Little Rock venues.

In addition to Heifer Village, the group visited the Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock Central High School and the Governor’s mansion. The group will continue on to Fayetteville to tour the University of Arkansas’ facilities, explore Crystal Bridges Museum of Art and meet with local and regional business representatives.

According to the State Department website, “In bringing these distinguished diplomats to “The Natural State,” the Office of the Chief of Protocol seeks to strengthen America’s relationships with countries around the world by planting the seeds for new international partnerships and providing our visitors with a deeper understanding of our nation’s people and heritage.

“The Experience America program is organized by the Diplomatic Partnerships Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol, whose mission is to foster international goodwill and cultivate relationships between the Diplomatic Corps and the people and institutions of the United States through an exchange of ideas, cultures, and traditions. This is the eleventh Experience America trip since 2007, and previous destinations include Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, as well as multiple cities in Alaska, California, Florida, Texas, and Wyoming. Since 2009, ambassadors from more than 100 countries have participated in Experience America trips,” the State Department’s website states.

Heifer International’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org or call (800) 696-1918. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and read about our work at our blog.