MITCHELL, SD – The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) hosted its fifth annual Heartland Summit in Mitchell, South Dakota, showcasing how “U.S. International assistance makes America stronger at home and abroad,” according to local Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson.

With a packed crowd of more than 130 constituents, and 17K more joining online from across the region, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) said, “The world is a better place when America leads. History proves it.”

“Senator Mike Rounds is one of our nation’s most effective and thoughtful policymakers—and this conversation showed why,” said USGLC President and CEO Liz Schrayer. “He couldn’t have been clearer about the imperative that America shows up with the capacity—including our civilian tools—to outcompete our adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran, especially given the ingenuity of the agri-business and farmer community of South Dakota. He reinforced that our engagement isn’t charity, but strategy, saying, ‘I firmly believe that what’s best for America is keeping our kids out of harm’s way… Let’s make these folks our allies… It’s less expensive than going in and creating a military operation.’”

Former South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard emphasized the need for effective international assistance programs: “It’s not just military might…but it’s also the soft power that we exert around the world that keeps the United States a world leader.”

Recently retired SOUTHCOM Commander General Laura Richardson joined the panel to reinforce the national security benefits of international assistance: “In terms of the aid and the money and the funding that’s been cut, I am very much for review, but not retreat… The resourcing that goes into other countries to help them defend against their threats creates a bubble around us, the United States. It’s in our national security interests.”

The panel also included South Dakota Corn’s DaNita Murray who talked about the self-interested benefits of food assistance for both our economy and our reputation: “There’s something extremely powerful about the image of the United States flag on the side of bags of commodities that are given to other countries… Part of the risk of ignoring that need worldwide is that soft power goes away.”

In South Dakota alone, America’s international engagement supports 1 in 5 jobs in the state—most from small and mid-sized businesses—and drives over $6 billion in exports each year.

That’s why USGLC is proud to expand the Farmers for Prosperity initiative into South Dakota, a major step in elevating the voices and influence of the state’s agriculture and rural leaders nationally and globally. As Senator Roundsreinforced, “In America, we’re blessed with the most productive farmers and ranchers in the world… Our farmers aren’t just stewards of the land, they’re defenders of our national interest.”

Click here to watch the full event.