DATCP was honored to collaborate with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) China - including with Robert Hanson, a Wisconsin native and the Agricultural Counselor with FAS China - during the unveiling of a Wisconsin-themed ice sculpture at the Harbin International Ice Festival in January. The highlight was the reveal of a 4.5-meter-tall dairy cow ice sculpture titled “America’s Dairyland,” a symbol of Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage and global leadership in dairy. The event showcased Wisconsin agriculture to a broad international audience and reaffirmed the longstanding sister-state relationship between Wisconsin and Heilongjiang, established in 1982.
While in Heilongjiang, the USDA FAS team also met with provincial officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Office of Heilongjiang Province to discuss agricultural trade issues and future cooperation. Together, these engagements help maintain critical market relationships, raise Wisconsin’s visibility, and support long-term opportunities for Wisconsin and agricultural exporters.