Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (C) talks with family members of Rick Kimberley during his visit to Kimberley's farm in Des Moines, Iowa, the United States, Feb. 16, 2012. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

The Chinese vice president toured a family farm in Iowa on Thursday.

Rick Kimberley, a 61-year-old soybean and corn farmer, and his family greeted Xi and his entourage in front of their house, together with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and other officials.

Xi asked a variety of questions on production and management of the farm, including how they read market signs and signals, how to weather years of poor harvests, how to guarantee environmental protection, and whether they had trouble gaining financing for crops.

Xi said he really enjoyed the "homey environment" in the farm. The elder Kimberley then showed Xi around the farm, introducing him several large pieces of equipment, including a tractor trailer and a combine and seed planter.

Xi climbed onto the tractor trailer with Rick Kimberley and tried his hand at the machine. At the end of the farm tour, Xi shook hands with Kimberley and wished him a better harvest this year.

The vice-president concluded his trip to Iowa and arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon. He was welcomed at Los Angeles International Airport by California Governor Jerry Brown, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials.