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Local family sharing the Midwest experience with a new generation

Local family sharing the Midwest experience with a new generation
Axel Tijou (second from left) is the third member of his family to visit Iowa from France. Erwin and Yoshiko Johnson (right) and their granddaughter, Vivienne Rafkin, have enjoyed hosting Axel to give him a taste of life in the rural Midwest. Press photo by Travis Fischer
By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

A favor between international diplomats has turned into a friendship spanning generations as a rural Floyd County family teaches young French visitors about life in the American Midwest.

Around 30 years ago, Jean-Pierre Leng, a French diplomat with the European Union, decided he wanted his teenage son, Edouard, to experience farm life in the United States. At a conference in Brussels, Leng met with then U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter and asked about finding a host family. Yeutter passed along the request to the country’s top farmer, Dean Kleckner, who was then the President of the American Federation Farm Bureau.

Kleckner, a native of Rudd, ultimately connected Leng with his longtime friends, Erwin and Yoshiko Johnson, who were happy to oblige the international favor.

“He arrived and lived with us in our home for one or two months,” said Erwin Johnson. “We really put him to work.”

The experience resulted in a cross-continental friendship between the two families, with the Johnsons later meeting diplomat Leng during a family trip to Japan, where Leng was serving as the EU’s ambassador at the time.

Edouard never forgot the experience either and, in 2022, contacted the Johnsons about again hosting a young member of his family, his nephew Aurélien Tijou.

Now, this year, the family tradition has continued as the Johnson family is hosting Axel Tijou, Aurélien’s younger brother.

Staying with Johnson’s daughter’s family, Wendy and John Rafkin, 15-year-old Axel has spent his July experiencing life in rural Iowa like his brother and uncle before him.

“I think it’s a very different place than France,” said Axel. “It’s very interesting to see a rural country.”

Coming from Paris, life in Floyd County is very different from Axel’s home. He has enjoyed experiencing the difference in culture, people, and food, with the Johnsons making sure he’s been able to try regional favorites like Taco Pizza.

Of course, Axel also got put to work on the farm, learning how to bail hay, move sheep and cattle, spray fields and mow.

Axel’s trip to the United States ended with a visit to the Floyd County Fair, which impressed him for being a venue where young people can present art and agriculture projects while also serving as a local entertainment festival.

“It’s definitely something I wish we had in France,” said Axel.

Axel’s visit may be over, but a younger sister, Dorothée, means the family tradition may continue.

In the meantime, the Johnsons say they have enjoyed having the young man visit to share their world and learn more about his.

“We’ve had some really good discussions together,” said Johnson. “I’ve learned a lot about France from this guy.”

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