Since our 1995 Grand Marquis was still at the car whisperer’s, our day on Friday, May 19 began a little earlier than normal. We had to be outside the Sweeney’s and waiting for H-N at 6:30 to make it to the Stole house with enough time to eat breakfast. Once we arrived, Diane’s quiche and banana bunt cake were there waiting. After our breakfast and daily brief, we quickly loaded into the van. We were forced to make the thirty-minute drive to Ames, to meet with Liz Kolbe of Practical Farmers of Iowa, in heavy rain.

When we arrived at Practical Farmers of Iowa, we were greeted by the office dog, Ginger. After we played with Ginger for a few minutes, Liz welcomed us and showed us to our meeting room. While the coffee was brewing, we began our discussion about the organization and some of the issues it handles. Unlike Iowa Corn, PFI does not address many policy issues; it does NOT have a lobbying arm.  It does on occasion make recommendations to the Farmers Union regarding policy issues that it might consider for its agenda.  They work with farmers

They are simply there for outreach and to let farmers know there is a helpful group on their side. One of the main issues we discussed was pesticide drift. In order to become and remain an organic farmer, you can’t use certain pesticides. However, if the farmer next to you isn’t organic and sprays his fields, there is a large chance that it could drift onto yours. If this happens, you can lose your organic certification. To combat this, Practical Farmers of Iowa produces literature, in cooperation with the Pesticide Bureau, of what to do if this happens to you. After our pesticide talk wrapped up, Sophie even got to hear what it is like to join their starter farmer program.

After we left Liz’s office, we had the opportunity to drive around the campus of Iowa State University. Although it was a nasty day, the campus was still amazing. Growing up about twenty minutes outside the University of South Carolina, I figured all big state schools would look the same; spread out, huge dorms, a lot of cheap apartments, and integrated within the city. However, this wasn’t true for Iowa State and Ames. The campus was massive, but also very compact within its realm. It seems like everyone I’ve met on this trip went to Iowa State, so it was cool to see the place. Once we left campus, we drove back to Morris’s for a break.

After our short break, which mostly consisted of eating homemade granola bars, we were off to “It’s All Good,” owned by the Fiscus family, for some lunch and ice cream. Once we finished our quick meal, we were off to Des Moines Water Works again. However, instead of touring and meeting will Bill Stowe like the day before, we met with Josh, an environmental lawyer at the Environmental Law and Policy Center. With the help of Jen, Josh discussed the case that DMWW was involved in. He explained how it went through the judicial system and how the impact of the case could have impacted the environment in a positive way. However, due to political pressures, a lot of parties that could have helped DMWW stayed out of it. At the end of his talk, Josh explained how he progressed to being an environmental lawyer and he began working at the ELPC. He even touched on his current bid for Des Moines City Council.

Once we left Des Moines, we headed back to Ames to go to Wheatsfield Cooperative. When we arrived at Wheatsfield, we were greeted with goodie bags that consisted of some literature, pins, and chocolate. After a short intro by Kim, we took a tour of the cooperative. She briefly touched on where their foods come from and how they choose their vendors. Kevin, the cheese maker we met with on Thursday, is even a featured producer there. After our tour, we ate a dinner consisting of some house-made favorites and local milk. Once we finished eating, we made our way back to the Stole house. Our night then consisted of talking and enjoying our free time.

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Unlike my flight to Iowa, where I sat next to some questionable characters, I was lucky enough to sit next to Jessie on our flight back to Atlanta. As we sat and talked waiting for takeoff, we both realized that we most likely won’t see any of our new Iowa friends again. Although our short three-week trip consisted of mostly travelling up and back in our twelve-passenger van, we also bonded with the people we were staying with and those we met along the way. Even if I make it back to Iowa in a few years, which I plan on, the odds of me seeing our new friends, like Morris and Staci, are virtually nonexistent. However, the memories I have made with the people on this trip will last a lifetime.

When we first landed in Des Moines, I was apprehensive. I only knew two of the people on our trip, and I wasn’t staying with them. Plus, when I left home, it was 80 and sunny. When we landed, it was 50 and rainy. One of my first thoughts was feeling like I packed completely wrong and would be miserably cold for three weeks. Luckily, that wasn’t the case. As we drove towards our new homes in Radcliffe, I knew I was in for a decent three weeks. Our main rendezvous point was the Stole house, or as Scott calls it, Versailles. My favorite part of our time at Morris’s was the cooking. Very rarely can you get a delicious home cooked meal and sit down with eight of your friends and enjoy a carefree meal. Diane was an amazing cook, and even though I’m at least ten pounds heavier, it was totally worth it. We ate like farmers. But, we didn’t really work like farmers.

Although there wasn’t much work to be done, the work we ended up doing was my favorite part of our journey. From the first weekend when I rode in the tractor with Brent Friest, to loading hay, I enjoyed every minute of work. My favorite memory was loading the hay on Jada’s trailers. The barn was hot, the hay was prickly, everyone was sweating, and after loading 375 increasingly heavy bales, everyone was exhausted. But, we all had fun stacking them on. By the end, I swear the bales were 30 feet high. In my opinion, there was nothing cooler, than going to the pizza place covered in hay and smelling like we’d been working all day. With every bit of work, there was a little pride knowing that I helped in a small way.

Even though working was my favorite part, we didn’t do it very often. Most of our trip revolved around learning about conventional ag, farm policy, farm issues, and environmental issues. Although we went to a lot of interesting places, like Des Moines Water Works and Drake Law School, I think my favorite educational meeting was with Ben “Dad” Knutson in the barn. Honestly, much of what we learned over the course of these three weeks went in one ear and out the other. Coming into the trip, I had very limited knowledge about anything agriculture related other than the dust bowl. But, Ben gave a simple talk that made a lot of sense. What he said helped tie everything together. He also showed that some farmers want to do everything they can to take care of their land, like plant cover crops and rotate crops, but sometimes it just isn’t financially achievable.

As Glen said multiple times, we had the chance to go anywhere in the world this May. Hopefully one day I will go to Helsinki or Italy. But, I can do many of the same things they do on those trips when I’m old and have money. Iowa is different. I know I’ll never have the chance to stay at the house of a former Iowan Legislator again. There is no way I could ever sit in a tractor and watch as the corn is planted for the year. Before this trip, I didn’t know what a morel mushroom was. Although I was unsuccessful, I still got to trek through the Iowa countryside searching for those elusive mushrooms. I even got to eat a few. Turns out, I like them a lot.

Like I mentioned earlier, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wish I could have taken more pictures and document my trip better, but most of my favorite parts couldn’t be photographed or expressed in words. The long dinner table arguments and discussions that sometimes got a little aggressive made meals more enjoyable. The van rides, where sometimes I thought I would die, made us all closer. The more we talked, the quicker our rides went. When I arrived in Des Moines, I was with 5 complete strangers, two acquaintances, and a professor I had to impress. However, I left with 8 friends. If I could do it over again, the only I would change is eating more desert and taking more nights to look at the stars. I’m glad I took this trip. During my short three-week stint here, I have made memories that I will never forget, with people I could never forget.

Peace out, Iowa.

On Memorial Day, we had the honor of meeting with renowned author and climate change expert, Connie Mutel. Not only is Dr. Mutel a well-known a science writer, but she is employed by the Iowa Institute for Hydroscience and Engineering. Because of her background, Dr. Mutel is very well versed in in her field, and has first-hand knowledge of how climate change has had a direct impacted on Iowa. When we first arrived at the Mutel house in Solon, I was instantly taken by the beauty of their landscape. It is only fitting that a climate change expert would take great care and show respect for her land. The acreage is all restored prairie land. The way their property looks today, is the way it would have looked in the late 19^th century. Once we went inside, it was just as beautiful as the property. On a side note, her and her husband Bob built the house together in the 1970s. We set up shop in the living room and began our lecture on climate change.

My favorite thing about Dr. Mutel was how personal the lecture was. In her newest book, Sugar Creek Chronicle, she emphasized the personal message and narrative. According to her, readers don’t like being told what to do. They like hearing personal stories and options about what can be done. I agree with this idea. Sugar Creek Chronicle is dedicated to her first-born granddaughter. Mutel begins her work by explaining how the world she grew up in is vastly different than the one her granddaughter will experience. She even shared examples of how the personal message in the work touched her readers and inspired change.

At the heart of her lecture, Mutel talked about land transformation from the founding of Iowa in the 1800s to present day. When the first European settlers arrived on the western bank of the Mississippi River in the mid-nineteenth century, they began making the land farmable. They tilled the dense prairie landscape with powerful horses, uprooting thousands of trees and plants, all in hopes of making the land profitable. This proved successful, and with the invention of the tractor in the early 1900s, most of the prairie landscape was gone by Iowa’s statehood. As technology increased, farm size also increased. However, as farm size increased, crop diversity decreased. The corn soybean rotation that came about in the mid-twentieth century really depleted the soil. The problems that were created then, runoff and erosion, are exacerbated today in issues like Des Moines Water Works and the land tilling debate.

According to Mutel, agriculture only contributes about 9% of greenhouse gasses. Other industries, such as coal and oil, attribute much more. However, as a country, during the Obama era, we made serious progress towards clean energy. As you drive through the Iowa countryside, the landscape is littered with wind turbines and barns that are sometimes covered in solar panels. The world is also beginning to progress. International treaties, such as the Paris agreement, are meant to lessen the effects of climate change worldwide. If countries take them seriously, they will have a tremendous impact. Although immediate change is needed, Connie assured us that if everyone does their part, change will come. The world will continue to be here no matter what. However, if we don’t preserve what we have, humans may not last.

After our talk, we met with Mary Mascher’s family and planted melons and pumpkins. When I was helping her brother set up the tractor, I asked him about his snowmobile repair business. Steve said that during the 90s, business was booming. However today, they don’t get enough snow for people to use these vehicles. Steve blamed global warming. He also went on to question how some people could deny climate change when Iowa has clearly changed over the past few decades. Dr. Mutel did note that January had a record high number of above freezing days this past year. If there is no snow and ice, people can’t run their snowmobiles. If they can’t run them, Steve is out of a job.

Unrelated, but Jessie holding a baby sheep and me with Bella the Llama at one of Mary Mascher’s farms.

Although I have always been a believer in climate change, Connie Mutel opened my eyes to the topic even more. She made me think about my impact on a small scale. Some of the same rivers I have fished in for years are now noticeably higher. This could be due to the increased rainfall we have seen, not just in the southeast, but all over the country. The Iowa floods of 2008 and the flood of my hometown in 2015 can be attributed, in part, to global warming. When you think about yourself, you forget the bigger picture and focus on what directly has an impact on your life. When you change, others change, and your environment changes. If everyone makes a few small changes, we can stall climate change and begin to make progress.

On Sunday, May 21, we had the ability to attend a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day. After being invited by Liz Kolbe, we drove about two hours south, past Des Moines, to Blue Gate Farm in Columbia, Iowa. Blue Gate is owned and operated by the former dramaturgs Jill and Sean Beebout. When we arrived, we were greeted by three friendly dogs and a small crowd of practical farmers. However, this crowd grew to north of thirty as the event progressed through the afternoon. The purpose of these field days is not only to show other practical farmers new methods and exchange ideas between them, but their goal is also to bring the community closer together and ensure that the small group of farmers is well connected.

During this specific field day, we learned about two-wheel tractors. After a short introduction to the farm, how they got into the business, and what these tractors are all about, we went outside to see them up close. In my opinion, the interesting thing about these tractors is how old and inexpensive they are. A new one might run anywhere from one to two thousand dollars, but a used one could be as cheap as one hundred dollars. Most of Jen’s tractors were used, and either picked up at auctions or sold very inexpensively to her. Jen was accompanied by an expert and her friend Jeff Lauber. He also explained everything you needed to know about these tractors. But, maybe more importantly, he briefly explained how and inexpensive two-wheels are to work on and how parts can be purchased from places like amazon.

After their discussion, everyone had the ability to drive a two-wheel tractors. Many patrons quickly jumped at to the opportunity to test drive them, and began asking questions. One question I overheard was from a guy who only had about three acres of workable land. He asked if the tractors required a lot of costly maintenance or if the bulk of the money was spent upfront. Jill reassured him that once you make the initial purchase and get the tractor up and running, as long as you keep it in good shape, there won’t be a problem. This question is very important for farmers who don’t have enough money to buy and make investments in machinery and equipment. Once the serious conversations ended, I had the opportunity use one and experience it myself.

Although most people didn’t stay out in the intense wind too long, we all convened in the barn for some light snacks and talking after the presentation. During this time, many farmers discussed what they had just seen and had the ability to process the demonstrations main takeaways. We also got to eat some delicious home-made cookies along with some cheese and crackers. Most of the farmers seemed to be having a really good time. This was amplified when we took a tour of the farm. On the tour, Jill showed us her high tunnels. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the tunnels and her growing process. We also got to sneak a look at their cheerful alpaca.

The impact of field days put on by groups like Practical Farmers of Iowa are huge. Farmers came from all over the state to see the farm and the demonstrations. Many farmers also had the chance to see if two-wheel tractors are for them. Although I personally didn’t get much practical knowledge out of the event, many participants there did. A forum where small-scale farmers can rebound ideas off each other is huge. Although conventional agriculture doesn’t deal as much in vegetables, small farmers still have a large field to compete with. Their goal is to make the best product possible. With the help of small, local farmers and Practical Farmers of Iowa, many people have real chances to succeed. In part, field days make this dream possible.

Driving my two-wheel tractor.

On Wednesday, May 24, we had the ability to visit the birthplace Henry A. Wallace in Orient, Iowa. The former Secretary of Agriculture and Vice President’s childhood home has been converted into a gathering place and community supported agriculture farm. The actual homestead is now a gift shop, and the old barn was converted into a working semi-public restaurant. The purpose of the property is to gather as a community and share ideas with new people. According to Diane, our guide during lunch, when there are dinners at the Wallace House, the staff mixes up the seating. This way, you don’t sit with the same people you came with. Because of this, you can experience new thoughts and emotions, while enjoying a fresh home-cooked meal. All the food is prepared on sight with ingredients from their garden, which is a local CSA. CSA is short for community supported agriculture. Within the CSA, customers purchase a share of the crop for a season. Those people who buy into the program get weekly baskets of fresh fruits, vegetables, or whatever is grown and harvested that week. The point of a CSA is to allow farmers to have a steady customer base and give them the ability to grow what they want. They can also try new things.

To our excitement, we had the ability to work in the garden. With the help of farm manager Mosa Shayan, we grabbed our hoes and headed out to the field. Since Mosa and the farm are organic, there can’t be any pesticides or herbicides used. So, we had the simple, yet difficult task of removing weeds of the seed rows. This is basically the organic farmer version of picking up rocks. Although there were only about 30 rows potatoes, the task took about two hours. When weeding, you had to be careful to just get out the weeds and not the potatoes you’re supposed to be protecting. During this time, we had the chance to talk with Mosa about his life, how he got started farming, and the troubles he faces as a small farmer. We also got to have some one-on-one time with whoever we shared our row with.

The Wallace house is important for a variety of reasons. Henry A. Wallace was a strong progressive. He believed in quick and rapid change, but also helping those who couldn’t afford to do so. Not only did he work under President Roosevelt in the height of the Great Depression, but he also had his own, although unsuccessful, run at the presidency. He also believed in the exchanging of ideas. Wallace regularly invited people on every side of the political spectrum to the drawing board while he was formulating his policies. The Wallace House is attempting to do the same thing. By hosting dinners and events, ideas can organically flow. When you sit with different people, you express and hear different values and practices. If  an unconventional organic CSA farmer sits next to a conventional farmer, odds are they will discuss their similar, yet completely different professions. They can talk about their practices and their own idea of sustainability. In turn, people can understand each side of the spectrum better. Even in our own small lunch, we talked about the troubles that often plague small organic farmers and what they are currently doing to better their livelihoods. Our conversation, along with those that professionals have, is just what Wallace would have wanted.

Our last Saturday in Iowa was one of our least busy days. Even though it wasn’t as busy, it still started bright and early. Since “Sophia” is still out of commission, we were greeted by the twins and H-N at 6:45 so we could to make it to Morris’s for our 7:00 breakfast. After a hearty breakfast, we discussed our plans for the day and set off for the short drive to the Ames Farmers Market. When we arrived at 8:30, there weren’t many people there. The small market was only about three or four blocks in total, but people were really enjoying themselves. The vendors sold everything from produce to soap and even some even sold clothes. They also had a petting zoo for the kids. The coolest part was seeing some local farmers we had met with set up. Tom and Kevin both had booths and were selling at a high clip. After going to both markets, it would be interesting to ask Kevin how much he made in Ames compared to what his wife made in Des Moines.

Once we finished our short time in Ames, we made a quick 30-minute drive to the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market. The hardest part of the day was trying to find a parking spot. Most parking garages are just a little too small for our van, which we learned the hard way. Once we found a spot, we ran into the farmers market and had a few hours to look around. The Des Moines Farmers Market is huge. It probably took up close 10 blocks and we might have walked close to a mile to see it all. Some of the same vendors from Ames, like Kevin’s Lost Lake Farm and a mini doughnut stand were in Des Moines. I spent most of the time walking around with Josh and Jessie. Since we were itching to buy something, we started off by buying some kettle corn. This way, we could eat a snack while looking at other food. Because of the impending weather, the farmers market closed at 11:30. So, we had to go through quick. Josh, Jessie, and I saw everything. We even bought some stuff goodies. Jessie and I both bought some Jelly from Blue Gate Farms, the site of the Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day we attended, and Josh bought a necklace made from local stone. Most of the stands seemed like they were selling all locally grown products. However, a few stands were selling out of place fruits like watermelon and avocado. As we’ve learned, they could have been made in a hoop house, but they also could have been bought at a store in hopes of turning an easy profit.

When the rain drove us away, we returned to Morris’s for a break. Because of the weather, we couldn’t work in the Fiscus Garden like we had planned. So, while some people napped, Reid, Sophie, Josh, Jessie, and I broke out the Wizard of Oz Monopoly board. Although I feel like some friendships were ended, it was an incredibly fun game that almost everyone enjoyed. After the three-hour marathon game, I decided to take a walk through Morris’s muddy corn field. Although my feet are still dirty after three showers, I really enjoyed the peace that I got from walking down the rows. I even picked up some rocks. Once I was back inside and washed up, it was time for dinner. We had tater tot casserole and Morris’s world famous death by chocolate for dessert. Although we hadn’t eaten since about 11, we took our time and savored every bite.

After dinner, we made our way to the Neubauer Farm and watched the movie King Corn. King Corn is a documentary about two recent college graduates who go to Iowa to plant one acre of corn. Their goal is to watch the corn from the time it is planted to wherever it ends up. However, the film showed this was impossible. Once the corn is sent to an elevator, it gets combined with the thousands of bushels already there. There were a few really interesting things I picked up from King Corn. First, we are basically made of corn. Almost every piece of food we eat can be traced back to corn. Therefore, it can almost all be traced back to Iowa. Whether it is a Coke sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup or a piece of steak that was taken from a corn-fed cow, corn is everywhere. Even when we looked at basic kitchen items at Morris’s, most them used some type of corn product. Second, the movie showed it is almost impossible to make money in farming without government subsidies. The two film-makers made about $28 from government subsidies in 2005. Without these subsidies, they would have lost $18 overall.
In my opinion, the most important takeaway is how important corn truly is to our society. Most of the corn that is grown can’t be eaten by humans. It must go through some sort of processing to make it edible. Although we do get cheap food, it is mostly composed of cheap ingredients. Cows shouldn’t be fed corn, they should be fed grass. The beef we get from corn-fed cows isn’t as good beef from grass-fed cows. According to the film, we are the first generation that has a life expectancy shorter than their parents. This could very easily be attributed to our diet. They do not have the variety they did in our parents’ generation. Also, processed foods play a bigger role than ever before. If we want to see change in our health, quality of life, and our environment, we should look carefully at the quality and quantity of corn being grown.

Tuesday, May 16 was an interesting day for the Farm crew, but especially for the guys I live with. First, Reid, Parker, and I woke up at 6:30 to artificially inseminate cows on the Sweeney Ranch. Once we herded the cattle and found the two females we needed, they had to be put into a head chute. Neither cow really wanted to be in there, so there was some trouble. Once the first cow was in, there was an issue finding the right parts, and she very forcefully broke through the chute scaring everyone in the barn but the relaxed Dave Sweeney. After that, it went fairly well. Once the second bovine was in the chute, she went extremely quick. After some unexpected car troubles, we arrived at Morris’s for breakfast at 7:45 and ate a classic Diane breakfast consisting of bacon and eggs. Once we were stuffed, we headed over to the Friest Farm.

Instead of riding tractors like we did Saturday, we had the opportunity to see their pig barn. Initially I was skeptical. Pig barns are a hot-button topic in agriculture, especially in a state like Iowa where there are hundreds of these barns in one single county. Some animal rights activists go crazy about the supposed inhumane conditions in these barns. They claim that the environments are too stressful on the pigs, they can easily get hurt chewing on the bars of their constricting metal cages, and sometimes they can even turn cannibalistic. Going into the barns, we couldn’t have had a better guide. Brent, who is a rather open guy, told us everything I could have wanted to know about how he raised his swine and how they were treated.

First, we saw the mill where the pig feed was created. One of the things Brent was most proud of on the Friest farm is their ability produce almost everything on site. They grow the corn to use for feed, make the feed themselves in their mill, and use the pig manure to put on their crops. One of the questions that came up in the food mill was about the use of antibiotics. Many claim that the pigs are being pumped with harmful antibiotics daily, and that these antibiotics not only effect their lives, but also effect human lives after consumption. Brent assured us this isn’t true. They only put in what they need to keep the pigs safe and happy. Plus, the antibiotics have no bearing on humans after consumption. Some, such as amoxicillin, are used on all types of humans and animals.

After the feed mill, we went to see the gestation crates. This is also a very sensitive issue. The crates are wide enough for the hogs to fit in comfortably, but they can’t turn around. Although this seems bad at first, once you enter and begin to look around it isn’t. In my opinion, the quality of life for these pigs wasn’t terrible. They get fed, are given plenty of water, and they are kept in a comfortable climate. The pigs in these cages aren’t treated bad. They are Brent’s property and his livelihood, so he keeps them in good enough condition to sell. Instead of being harsh and cruel, he genuinely tries his hardest to care for the pigs and ensure they are in good enough shape to be sent to market.

Next, we went inside one of my favorite places of all time, the piglet barn. Here, mothers lay in gestation crates while their offspring ran happily around them either feeding or playing. Some activists claim the gestation creates are extremely inhumane. They say the mothers don’t have room to move around and they are kept in a position where they can only stand or lay down. But, as Brent explained, this is for the safety of the piglets and the mother. A lot of babies die because they are stepped or laid on. The crates are meant to maximize the health of the baby pigs. Each mother pig is given ample food and water while she is nursing, and the piglets have unobstructed access to their mother’s udders as well as milk put in their spaces. Not only did we get to see the piglets, but we also got to hold them. In my opinion, this was one of the best moments of our trip. Some didn’t like the human contact, but others loved being held.

I think one of the biggest problems pig barns face is the lack of communication between farmers and consumers. Because of the biosecurity issue, most people aren’t allowed in pig barns to experience them firsthand. Before going into the Friest barn I was worried about what I might see. Most of the things I’ve heard about barns are horrible. I expected dead and tailless pigs everywhere. However, this wasn’t anywhere close to reality. As I said earlier, the pigs are Brent’s livelihood. They are in good hands. If anything is abnormal or the pig is injured, he can’t be sold; that’s money out of the Friest’s pockets. As we see a few more hog barns in the upcoming weeks it will be easier to compare what I saw on the Friest Farm. But as of now, I see nothing wrong with the way hogs are raised in large, independent barns. Brent said that every barn is different, and that no states have the same style, volume, or methods to raising pigs. Because of this, people need to look at pigs on a local level. There can’t be any catchall policies is pig farming.

Even though we’ve only been on the Farm for a few days, I can already tell that Saturday May 13 will be one of the best and maybe most memorable days in Iowa. The day started with us getting to sleep an extra 15 minutes; a small victory, but an important one. When we arrived at the Stole house, we were greeted by fancy “hippie” breakfast milkshakes created by HN . These shakes included ingredients such as kale, cayenne pepper, and agave, not what I pictured to be drinking on an Iowa farm. This was the first time I had ever tried anything like that or eaten kale. They turned tasting much better than I expected.

After breakfast and our daily briefing finished, we headed over to the Friest Farm. The Friest Farm is across the road from the Neubauer Farm and is owned operated by the father-son duo of Denny and Brent. I had the opportunity to ride along in a planter with Brent while he planted corn. On the tractor, we talked about a wide variety of things ranging anywhere from windmills to government regulations on manure. The coolest part was being able to watch from every angle as the corn was planted using the precision ag tools we learned about a day earlier. On a side note, Brent was easily the best person I have ever seen at backing up with a trailer.

We then ate a quick lunch and drove into Pella to see “Map of My Kingdom”, a play written by Iowa’s poet laureate, Mary Swander, at the Pella opera House. After the short one-woman one-act play finished, there was a short question and answer session with the playwright herself. Although both were a once-in-a-lifetime experience, my favorite event occurred later that night.

Once we finished our dinner cooked by Morris Stole, we headed off to my first, and hopefully not my last, barn dance. When we first arrived, I’ll admit, I was a bit timid. Everyone was standing around outside or in the hay barn chatting. In typical Iowa fashion, everyone at the dance knew everyone. So, our gang stood out like a sore thumb. When we went inside the barn we sat in our own isolated corner. Although in hindsight nobody was looking at us, I felt like everyone was staring at the out-of-towners sitting alone. However, once the band began playing, the entire place transformed. The dance floor was instantly flooded with people of all ages, and everyone knew exactly how to dance. Joined by Hagan, I went onto the dance floor, and we gave our best effort at dancing the two-step.

After a few songs, the “waterfall” began. This dance put men in one line and women in another, and we were randomly paired with partners. My first partner was an older woman, probably in her early 80s, who was an amazing dancer. She taught me the steps as we went along, and even though I didn’t catch on until the very end, she said I was a great partner. I tried another partner, but it had an equally bad outcome. Having felt like I embarrassed myself enough, I went outside to use the outhouse. While in line, I began talking to a woman. After some small talk, our topic moved to dancing. Little did I know, her and her husband, who had been married for about 40 years, had been going to barn dances together since they were in high school. She gave me some words of encouragement and was able to persuade me to go back onto the dance floor.

She gave me enough confidence that I didn’t leave the dance floor for the rest of the night. I danced with anyone from old women to teenage girls. As the night drew on, I even became better at the two-step. However, I think the most important thing I learned from the dance is how important community and friendship is to the people of Central Iowa. The same people go to dance after dance and have developed close ties. While walking around, I overheard men talking about their latest corn planting and politics, while the women talked about who brought what “snackies” and freely chatted about the upcoming week.

The culture in Iowa is very different from my neighborhood in South Carolina. My parents and my neighbors rarely talk. Once a year there is a block party, but nobody really wants to be there, it’s more of a chore. They tend to just sit around and talk about how people have let their yards go. Here, it is completely different. Neighbors are friends. These friends are treated like family. They genuinely care about each other and are there to help whenever it is needed. In small towns, such as the ones we are scattered across now, people tend to view their lives differently. Farming has no room to take anything for granted. Everyone really appreciates the little things. Being able to have a carefree night of dancing and friendship after a hard day of planting seems like a perfect Saturday night in Iowa.

On the morning of Thursday May 11, we awoke at what seemed like the crack of dawn, 6:45 am, and arrived at Morris Stole’s house for breakfast at 7:15. Here, we met Diane. Some say she is the best cook in Harden County, which I might agree with. After our breakfast, we headed off to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls to meet with Professor Kevin Butt. Starting at 9, we had a lecture on farm safety. It was interesting, but it was also very scary to see how easy serious accidents can occur on the farm. During the farm safety presentation, we were also introduced to precision agriculture. I would define precision ag as making life for farmers much easier and their work much more efficient. Instead of doing work by hand, such as driving the tractor and operating planters and sprayers, the software technology allows tractors to steer themselves or to plant seeds in very straight rows. Professor Butt also introduced us to the use of drones on the farm. This took us to his family farm, just outside of Iowa Falls, where we watched him fly his drone. While flying, he explained how the camera on the drone was useful to look at how crops were growing, where weeds were growing, and everything that had to deal with the field.

After we left Professor Butt’s farm, we drove back into town and ate lunch at 502 Grill House. In an attempt to keep with my majority pork diet while in Iowa, I ate the 502’s special, the pork tenderloin. While eating lunch, we were able to talk among ourselves and get to know each other a little better. This proved to be important because we typically spend all day together. Once we finished our lunch, we headed to the main campus of Ellsworth Community College in downtown Iowa Falls. Professor Butt took us on a tour of his workshop and let us ride on his precision ag golf cart. On the golf cart, we saw a sprayer work alongside the GPS and cover the field. In my opinion, the best part was seeing the sprayer shut off over the areas that had already been sprayed. Once we finished our testing on the golf cart, we took a tour of campus and headed back to the Stole house.

On the way back to Morris’s for dinner, we stopped at Theisens. The only way I can describe this store is a Lowes mixed with an Academy Sports with chickens in the back. We picked up some extra rubber boots and then we made our way back to the Morris’s place. For supperer, Diane and Staci, her daughter, made beef stew topped with biscuits. For desert, the most important part of Diane’s meals, we had rice pudding. After dinner, we discussed our day around the table and continued discussion on topics ranging from precision ag to a Kum & Go 100 oz. mug (which we will acquire).  Stay tuned, others in the group will surely explain.