As I sat waiting for my flight departing from my home in Connecticut, I read Stephen G. Bloom’s article, “Observations From 20 Years of Iowa Life,” and thought to myself, why would anyone want to go to Iowa?  The article paints a bleak and depressing picture of a state that does not deserve to host the first-in-the-nation caucuses.  Bloom’s essay was published in Atlantic just before the 2012 Iowa caucuses.  But even after this read, I still had confidence that my experience in Iowa would be filled with interesting discoveries that would spur innovative thoughts and ideas.  I am truly interested in how the agricultural business operates and how new technologies are striving to make it better.  This is why I am going to Iowa: I view it as a chance to experience first hand the basic functions of the agricultural business.  And after reading Jim Offner’s article, “Field of Dreams,” which seems to describe a state completely different from that of Stephen Bloom’s observations, my confidence was reaffirmed.  I do not know much about the place to which I am going, but I am sure that the experiences I will have there will be unique and enriching; that is why I am spending my May in Iowa.

After landing at the airport and meeting up with some other members of the group, my excitement mounted as Dr.HN drove us closer and closer to our destination. I had limited expectations about what the farm itself would look like, mostly because I’ve never really been to functioning farm before.  What I was most surprised about was the condition of the basketball court located in the barn along with the very impressive movie screen.  These factors are fairly trivial when looking at what this trip is focused on but nonetheless it’s what has jumped out at me so far.  I look forward to further exploring the farm grounds and learning about the specific operations that go on here.  After dinner tonight, we had a chance to hear from “Denny,” HN and Nancy’s brother, who runs the farm.  Denny knows a lot about the agricultural industry and at times during his talk it was as if he was speaking a different language comprised of complicated farm lingo that I could only hope to come to understand.  He reminded me of my dad’s father, always able to tell a compelling story about a variety of topics.  I look forward to getting to better know the man and the rest of people who make the farm operations run smoothly.