state by state speak your mind about...iowa

[SwampG8r]

corniest place i ever saw
except there were hogs where the corn wasnt
and soybeans lot of soybeans
pretty though in a rolling cornfield way
i would have liked to have been able to spend more time in des moines
radar o reilly was from ottumwa

[Ecumenist]

1. I've never been there but I"ve heard that it's lovely with the rolling hills and the waves of

grain. I would love to take a road trip there one day.

[seeviewonder]

14. I live in the western part where the rolling hills are prevalent.

I recommend seeing it sometime, especially in the summer when the warm breezes move the corn and tree leaves. Really cool stuff.

[The Genealogist]

2. Barely avoided a wreck in Iowa

Icy weather, jeep, fatigue...but I made it through. I have only driven across Iowa, only stopped for the night. Never went to Iowa to visit Iowa; it is sandwiched between Missouri and Minnesota, the later of which was my goal. It was very flat and corn-filled when I was through there in warm weather, icy in winter.

[pamela]

3. Field of Dreams

I talked my husband into going to the Field of Dreams site on a cross-country roadtrip a few years ago. It was a really fun stop and a nice break from the interstate. It wasn't as touristy as you might think. I'm smiling right now just thinking about it. It was fun seeing the house and just walking around the baseball diamond and goofing around and pretending we were disappearing into the cornfield.

That was pretty much our only stop in Iowa although we spent hours driving through it. It was a nice drive, flat but not boring. I still remember that day so vividly. I have definitely seen more spectacular sights on our cross-country travels but that one stands out for some reason.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. I read a while back the owners sold out to developers.

They're putting in more fields and training facilities and stuff. I can't fault the owners for finally cashing in but you'd think the state would grab it and market it as-is. It's not like there's a ton of other attractions in Iowa.

[rucky]

4. There's nothing half way about the Iowa way...

...to treat you,
When we treat you
Which we may not do at all.
There's an Iowa kind of special
Chip-on-the-shoulder attitude.
We've never been without.
That we recall.
We can be cold
As our falling thermometers in December
If you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by God stubborn
We could stand touchin' noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.
But what the heck, you're welcome,
Join us at the picnic.
You can eat your fill
Of all the food you bring yourself.
You really ought to give Iowa a try.
Provided you are contrary,
We can be cold
As our falling thermometer in December
If you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by God stubborn
We can stand touchin' noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.
But we'll give you our shirt
And a back to go with it
If your crops should happen to die.

[a la izquierda]

5. Just visited for the first time the other day...

and I absolutely loved it!! What a beautiful state with lovely people.

[MineralMan]

6. I've visited Cedar Rapids, and have driven

through Iowa several times. Interesting state, and much misunderstood by most people, who see it as just some grain-belt, conservative state. And yet, it was one of the very first states where marriage equality became a reality. I highly recommend a visit to the Historic Amana Colony outside of Cedar Rapids and a meal in the Ronnenberg restaurant, there.

[cyberswede]

7. Lots of "firsts"

University of Iowa Firsts

• The first public university in the country to admit women and men on an equal basis (1855)


• The first public U.S. university to grant a law degree to a woman (Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, 1873), to grant a law degree to an African American (G. Alexander Clark, 1879), and to put an African American on a varsity athletic squad (Frank Kinney Holbrook, 1895)


• The Daily Iowan was the first daily campus newspaper west of the Mississippi. (1901)


• Home to the nation's first female college newspaper editor (1907)


• First university to devote a program to rehabilitating children with disabilities


• First tax-supported college to establish a school of religion


• The first Big Ten institution to promote an African American to an administrative vice president’s position (Dr. Philip Hubbard, promoted in 1966)


• The first state-university to officially recognize the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied Union (1970)


• The first public university in the country to offer insurance benefits to employees' domestic partners (1993)

[bross]

8. ok

grain. I would love to take a road trip there one day.


I also

[XemaSab]

9. I've only been there for the primaries

If anyone is ever considering going for the primaries, do it. It's a lot of fun.

[cyberswede]

10. Iowa has its moments

The more progressive areas are terrific (Iowa City is a blast - a lot more fun than Des Moines).

One small town is the only majority/minority town in the state (over 50% latino). The school has a 50/50 dual language immersion program (kids learn in English half time, and Spanish half time), from Pre-K through high school.

NPR did a recent piece, and CNN had a short interview with some residents around caucus time regarding the latino vote.

[jwirr]

13. Having grown up in NW Iowa I will agree that it is wonderful in the progressive areas like Iowa City

but that is about all I can say for it. The fact that NW Iowa elected King to congress is all that needs to be said IMO.

[roody]

11. I like Iowa. I visit family there

twice a year. It is almost impossible to buy good coffee, brewed or to brew, in Des Moines. I always bring my own. I say almost because you can find a Starbucks, but I'd rather support local business.

[Moondog]

12. I've flown over it a lot.

But I've never been there on the ground.

[Bluzmann57]

16. We are the land between two rivers

And have some of the finest fishing in the whole USA. We also realize that if there's work to be done, do it. Don't put things off and help your neighbor if he needs it.
Great state, great people. I am proud to be an Iowan in spite of that pos rep from western Iowa.

[Little Star]

17. I wouldn’t mind experiencing some of that midwestern hospitality!

It looks like they have 5 great National Wildlife Refuges in Iowa and a learning center that piqued my interest. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Prairie Learning Center:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nealsmith/

I’d love to visit The Effigy Mounds National Monument: http://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm

Here’s the Official Iowa Tourism website:
http://www.traveliowa.com/

[shcrane71]

18. I believe the Cedar Rapids mosque is the oldest one in the nation.

At least that's what my Islamic friends have told me. And there are big signs leading to that unassuming mosque. Too bad Cedar Rapids is still recovering from the flood.

[LeftinOH]

19. I'm from Ohio. There are lots of Americans who think Ohio/Iowa are the same

place. I've encountered that more than once.

[mnmoderatedem]

20. I graduated from Iowa State University

we wore T-Shirts around campus that read:

Iowa State University
Idaho City, Ohio