The leader of the state’s largest farm organization will join Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on a historic trip later this month to Cuba, a country that has not been visited by state of Texas elected officials since the United State imposed an embargo against the Communist nation in 1962.

Kenneth Dierschke, president of the Texas Farm Bureau, Staples and 23 others representing different facets of the state’s agricultural industry are part of a Texas trade delegation to the island nation. The visit will take place May 27-31 and aims to expand Texas export opportunities in Cuba.

“The Farm Bureau has long supported an immediate normalization of trade and travel relations with Cuba,” said Dierschke, a cotton and grain farmer from Tom Green County. “In short, the sanctions we’ve imposed on that country have not accomplished what they were put in place to do, which was to stifle communism. Instead, those sanctions have worked in many ways to disadvantage both the Cuban citizens—who have no say under the government in which they live—and our farmers and ranchers here at home.”

With only 900 miles of Gulf waters separating Houston from Havana, Cuba is a prime potential trading partner for Texas crops and livestock, Dierschke said. In fact, Texans have exported more than $100 million in agricultural products to Cuba since Congress partially lifted Cuban trade restrictions in October 2000.

“The Cuban market holds great potential for our producers all across the state, and given our proximity and infrastructure, we are well positioned to provide them with the products they need,” Dierschke added. “We look forward to building meaningful partnerships that will work for the benefit of everyone involved.”

Joining Dierschke from the Texas Farm Bureau will be John Chumbley of Dorchester Grain in Howell, TFB Research, Education and Policy Development Director Glen Jones, TFB District 6 State Director Gary McGehee, TFB District 10 State Director Raymond Meyer, TFB District 5 State Director Dan Shelton and TFB Legislative Director Steve Pringle.