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Isabella ‘Bella’ Nesbeth received the Frederick Baumann Essay Prize Award that recognizes excellence in education by encouraging ɬ�﷬ students to explore ideas and society in an interdisciplinary and historical context.

Nesbeth, class of 2026 from Morrisville, North Carolina, is a rising senior pursuing an independent major in International Relations. Her essay titled “Farming the Frontlines: Corn, Cooperation, and Cold War Curiosity,” examines Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s 1959 visit to Iowa through the lens of Cold War diplomacy and agricultural exchange. 

“I chose this topic because of its unique connection to Iowa and U.S. foreign affairs,” said Nesbeth. “I first learned of Khruschev’s visit during the History of U.S. Foreign Relations course with Professor Seth Rotramel as a Charles B. Rangel Undergraduate Scholar in summer 2024.”

“The event immediately captured my interest,” Nesbeth stated in her essay genesis. “I was excited to explore this moment through the combined lenses of political science, history, and the Russian language.”

In Nesbeth’s first year of college, she took History of International Relations with Professor H. Wayne Moyer where the class took a close look at the United States during the Cold War. Her deep study of the Russian language was inspired by courses with Professor Raquel Greene, Professor Todd Armstrong, and Professor Kelly Herold.

“I was really interested in how Khruschev’s visit to Iowa didn’t necessarily change the trajectory of the Cold War, but it changed some of the conversations,” continued Nesbeth. “The encounter shows how the use of soft power and agricultural diplomacy can bring together two fundamentally opposing nations.”

Nesbeth studied Russian in Tallinn, Estonia in Fall 2024 as a Benjamin A. Gilman Critical Need Language Scholar. She is a member of the ɬ�﷬ softball team and serves as the Midwest Conference Representative to the National NCAA Division III Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She thanks her softball teammates for listening to her talk about her essay every time the bus passed a cornfield on the way to games.

After graduation in May 2026, Nesbeth plans to enter graduate school with the career goal to be a member of the United States Foreign Service with the United States Department of State. The Baumann Essay cash prize will contribute to her savings in reaching this goal.

“Farming the Frontlines: Corn, Cooperation, and Cold War Curiosity” and other Baumann Essay Prize writing can be found on Digital ɬ�﷬, .

The Frederick Baumann Essay Prize Award

The Baumann Essay Prize, established in 1993 and funded by David ’51 and Audrey Lowe ’52 Hammer, distinguishes the dynamic classroom contributions of Frederick Baumann, professor of history at ɬ�﷬ from 1927 to 1954. The prize is awarded each spring to the student, from any discipline and any class year, who writes the best essay related to the general topic of “Ideas and Society,” taking an interdisciplinary and historical approach. For additional information about the award, please contact Ann Landstrom, fellowship advisor, at landstrom@grinnell.edu.