By Airokhsh Faiz Qaisary
Airokhsh is the USA Rice manager of compliance and grants. She is originally from Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, and currently lives in northern Virginia.
ARLINGTON, VA – I recently had the privilege of participating in my first trip as part of the USA Rice Leadership Development Program. While my fellow participants included farmers, millers, and marketers, I joined from a different corner of the industry: compliance. My world is one of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) guidelines, ensuring that the USDA funds that support this vital industry are used responsibly. I spend my days in the office, so the chance to see the real-world impact of these funds was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
Our journey began with a visit to a brewery in Houston, Texas, that was once a rice mill. While my classmates enjoyed a rice beer and teased me about missing out on such a nice treat, I used the opportunity to build relationships with my fellow travelers. The next day, touring the Texas Rice Milling Company, I saw firsthand the supply chain that I usually only see on paper. Meeting Pam West and hearing the story of her rice brand, "Honestly Texas," reinforced the critical importance of traceability and transparency, which are the cornerstones of compliance. It put a face to the regulations I work with every day and reminded me that while there are so many challenges facing the farmers and millers, they continue to work towards prospering through new technologies and building new infrastructure.
The media training session was another unexpected highlight. While I don't often speak to the press, the focus on "bridging," or connecting your key message to any question, is exactly what I do as a compliance manager.
Tuesday was a day of profound connection for me. At RiceTec in Alvin, seeing the incredible investment in seed innovation and advanced lab technology brought the abstract grant agreements to life. This is where the funding goes. This is the future we are investing in. Later, at Timothy Gertson’s farm in Wharton County, hearing about the severe challenges of water availability and declining acreage provided a crucial, sobering context to my work. It’s not just about enforcing rules; it’s about understanding the risks that threaten the very people and businesses our funding is meant to support. I got to see and touch the rice seedlings and learned about various technologies used to spray and water plants.
Our visit to the Port of Lake Charles was a powerful visualization of global trade, connecting my work with FAS regulations to the massive ships and infrastructure that move U.S. rice around the world. In all honesty, I was mind-blown by the infrastructure and complicated yet smooth process they have put together to make the shipping of thousands of tons of materials seem effortless. At the Richard Farms in Kaplan, I got to ride on a tractor with owner Christian Richard and was amazed by the high tech, programable options for production equipment. That evening, at a crawfish boil there hosted by the Louisiana growers, I had my first taste of crawfish and experienced the incredible hospitality of the rice community. It was a wonderful reminder that behind all the regulations and reports are people, families, and a rich culture.
Our final days were filled with more educational sessions. Hearing Bobby Hanks, CEO of Supreme Rice Mill, discuss international trade policy was like seeing the final piece of the puzzle click into place. Industry efforts to ensure fair trade are the real-world application of the policies I help implement. A visit to the Rice Research Station in Crowley was equally enlightening, seeing the meticulous process of breeding and research, from a tiny rice seedling in a greenhouse to vast field trials underscored the immense science and dedication behind modern rice production.
I left this trip with a renewed sense of purpose. My understanding of the rice industry was transformed from a series of documents and regulations into a living, breathing ecosystem of dedicated people. But the transformation went deeper still. As the only non-American in the group, a Muslim, immigrant woman whose first language is not English, I found this trip was as much about personal connection as it was about professional discovery.
For many of the farmers we met, it was likely their first time interacting with someone like me. Our conversations went beyond rice and regulations, leading to open and honest questions about my visa status, my home country, and my journey to America. In those moments, I believe we helped break down stereotypes and build genuine bridges of understanding. The connections we made were real and gave me a much deeper appreciation for the challenges and triumphs of the U.S. rice industry. I am more committed than ever to ensuring my work in compliance serves not just as a regulatory function, but as a human one, a bridge to a stronger and more prosperous future for U.S. rice.
I am forever grateful for this opportunity thanks to the program’s generous sponsors, American Commodity Company, John Deere Company, RiceTec, and Supreme Rice, and to Dr. Linscombe, Kane Webb, my fellow teammates, and USA Rice.