Somewhere on a country road in Iowa

Many people have weighed in on the conversation with National Geographic on why they should visit Iowa in their trek across the United States.  Here’s just a few comments received from blog posts, facebook comments and twitter.   

But none of the glitz and glamour found in the big cities feeds my soul like quiet times spent in the Midwest’s rural areas! That’s why one of the things I enjoy most about my job is traveling the countryside, visiting with Latham® dealers and farmer-customers. I’ve gained an appreciation for the differences in the landscape across six states. I enjoy the raw beauty of each area, whether I’m in the Loess Hills of Iowa or along the Mississippi River.….Shannon Latham  (read entire article here)

Making a living in this tiny town is simpler. Taxes are amazingly cheaper. The air is fresher. The pace, slower. I am forever savoring the bounties and blessings from nature that are ever at my back door. Children ride bikes together through town, and the city park burgeons with baseball players, soccer enthusiasts, and families grilling outside. Yet, sometimes Iowa’s rural beauty is its most poignantly refreshing when first arriving back home from our world-wanderings. ..Pamela Warwick  (read entire blog post here)

I have lived in numerous places(Germany, Japan, Colorado, Texas, N.D., Minnesota, etc.) and far prefer Iowa. I find life in small town America a wonderful place to live!! I enjoy the friendly people, the superior economy, good school system, strong work ethic, firm religious convictions, and a sense of community with safety. I hope I can stay here a long time!! P.S. I appreciate the continuing education from the community college too!! … Shirley Ostroot of Osage  (one of the NIACC students taking my Senior Boot Camp class and she is over 70 years old

‎@NatGeoTraveler, Iowa’s no fly over state!

• Iowa: home to the last designed Frank Lloyd Wright hotel in the world, and recently renovated! (Historic Park Inn, Mason City).
• How about those 76 trombones that led the big parade? Band Fest is coming up in May 24-26, how about a stop in Mason City to pay tribute to the famous Meredith Wilson!
• Love the food you eat? (I know I do!) Without the tractor, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today in our food system. Credit goes to John Froelich, visit his museum near Monona, Iowa.
• We built it, and they came! Iowa is home to The Field of Dreams. Guessing Kevin Costner would agree, it’s a must see!
• And how about that beloved computer you use to take down all your travel experiences, better stop at Iowa State University for that one! First digital computer was invented there in 1942. By the way, Iowa State University was also the first land grant college, and such a beautiful campus I might add.
• Bridges of Madison County, THE Iowa State Fair (Can’t be beat!)
• I could go on and on. The south, yeah that’s been done. Iowa is where it’s at! ….Laura Cunningham

• Worlds Largest Truck Stop: Walcott, IA http://iowa80truckstop.com/
• Antique Archaeology: Le Claire, IA http://antiquearchaeology.com/
• Effigy Mounds: Marquette, Iowa http://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm
• West Bend – Grotto of the Redemption http://www.westbendgrotto.com/
• Sergeant Floyd Monument: Sioux City, IA
• Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, IA (Kind of Creepy, but people like it)
• NASCAR racing begins in May at Newton’s Iowa Speedway
• Pella, IA and the Dutch Festivals and Tulip Time. http://www.octulipfestival.com/
• Decorah Eagles
• Ertl Toy Company in Dyersville, IA
• Amana Colonies: http://amanacolonies.com/
• Sullivan Brothers: Waterloo, IA
• Devonian Fossiles: Rockford, IA http://www.fossilcenter.com/
• Louisiana Purchase
• Charles City Oliver Tractor Company
• Herbert Hoover Birthplace: West Branch, IA
• Johnny Carson Birthplace: Corning, IA
• John Waynes Birthplace: Winterset, IA
• Ashton Kutcher was Born in Cedar Rapids
Just a few things that I thought of through out the day. …Amy Hild

Twitter conversation between KCEdventures and @IATraveler — this my friends, is a great example of long tail! 

Old Stone House outside of Geneva Iowa

I live in the Midwest. Along with 60 million other people.  That’s a lot of people.  Yet we often get referred to as the fly over states.  The payusnonevermind location.  The “why do you want to go there” states.

A group of us (Iowans) think the people that believe like that are wrong.  Just plain wrong.

We know how good the food is in New York, how spread out LA is and how nice it is to live on the lake in Chicago.  We’ve traveled all over the world and see how other people live.  We’ve lived all over the world.  And now we’ve come back home to Iowa.  There’s a reason for that.

Iowa rocks!

In Franklin County, where 10,000 people live, we’ve got:

• 27 recreation areas (not including city parks)
• 12 Historic Places on the National. Register (Beeds Lake State Park, H.E. Boehmler House, Franklin County Courthouse, Franklin County Sheriffs Residence and Jail, Hampton Double Square Historic District, Dr. O.B. Harriman House/Harriman Nielsen Historic Farm, Maysville Schoolhouse, Leander Reeve House, and Herman Wood Round Barn),
• unique one of a kind shopping in Hampton, Latimer, Sheffield, Coulter, Dows, Popejoy, Geneva, Sheffield, Chapin,
• and No Wal-Mart.

Iowa leads the country in wind power – renewable energy at its best.

Iowa is ranked the 2nd most livable state.

Iowa is the 8th healthiest state in the nation.

Iowa has over 1400 miles of trails for hiking and biking within its state parks and recreational areas.

You can visit Hoover Presidential Library, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Effigy Mounds, any one of five National Refuge Areas, follow the Iowa Wine and Beer Trail, attend the world’s best state fair, and travel scenic byways.

But the best kept secret of Iowa is it’s people.  You’ll never want for someone to help you, have a conversation with, a good belly laugh with and a personal tour guide.  We’ve been raised to be kind, treat strangers as family and to love one another.  

Aric Queen is on a mission for National Geographic.  He gets the opportunity to travel the United States and write about it.  But for some crazy reason, he’ll be staying all along the Southern states on his journey.  Good Lord!  Enough already!  Go north young man, go north.

So as Aric Queen travels the United States for National Geographic, we’ve invited him to join us here in the Midwest.  And we need your help. We’re asking you to tweet using the hashtag #TravelMidwest.  Tell us why you live in the Midwest, what you love about your home town.  Go on Facebook and follow me (Deb During Debworks Brown) and tell me those things.  We promise to get the information to Aric.  Because we are more than a flyover state and we want National Geographic to spend some time in our home towns.

Aric’s twitter description says “I’m on a road trip across America with @NatGeoTraveler to uncover uncommon stories of people who are bringing change to their communities. Help me find them.”  I say his search is over.  Come to Iowa.

(Visit Jody Halsted’s blog here and see how this entire conversation got started.)

We started last Saturday at Kings Crossing Winery.  They have a small winery and vineyard.  100% of their wines are made from Iowa grown grapes, apples and honey.  It’s not a big place, but I’m starting to notice many of the wineries in Iowa are that way.  We enjoyed the tasting, company and music.

Next on our stop was Prairie Crossing Winery . It’s family owned and operated and their wines were also good!  Adam played a couple of songs here, and booked a Mother’s Day Concert.

I am not a wine expert.  I know that I prefer a dry red, and in Iowa – that’s not common.  It’s been my good luck to find some good tasting dry, red wines in Iowa.  Many of the wines are sweeter in Iowa.  It’s been my even better luck to be able to work with Adam Lee.  He’s a musician through and through and a damn good one at that.  Adam also is personable and knows how to get a great performance.

Next on our wine stop was Wabash Wine Company.  We had a table right in front of the performer (Adam) and we drank their St. Patrick’s Sangria.  The crowd in the place was pretty rowdy (see picture) and Adam did a fine job of performing and entertaining.  It’s a skill to be able to control a rowdy crowd!

All throughout the day we wandered the country side and took pictures of Adam for his bio, website, media kit and personal use.  It was wonderful exploring old locations to take new pictures in!

Have a listen to Adam perform an original piece of us called Market Street.

Here’s another song by Adam, called Harvest of Love.

Unless you define classic as: best breakfast of eggs, toast and bacon ever eaten, Americano to rival those in Italy, artwork bigger than life, ambiance that every woman dreams of, conversation with people who work there that made you feel right at home, and neato frito interior!

My friend Mel and I took a little road trip this past weekend down to Southwest Iowa.  We visited five wineries, heard Adam Lee in concert and ate breakfast in Malvern.  The Classic Cafe rates high on the scale of restaurants I’ve visited around the world.

On the north side of the place is the full bar, seating area and artwork scattered around the room.  Plenty of room to dancing, schmoozing and enjoying the evening.   Mel is pictured here (with her coffee) in front of the chalkboard wall.

Of course the bar has a Don Quixote ready and willing to have a good time.

On the south side of the place are two huge windows, one loaded with goodies you can purchase, the other has seats you can relax in.  There’s oversized artwork on the walls and Desiderata posted boldly for the world to see.  Booths are along one wall, the coffee bar on the other wall.  Through the swinging doors is the kitchen.  I peeked, stainless steel and a good looking cook were back there!

Did I mention the home made baked goods?  The waitress who used to own the place and now is happier than a pig in mud to work there?  A brother and sister and their spouses now own it – and they have the fever.  That would be small towns are great fever – take a lesson from them.  They got it right.

Find Classic Cafe on Facebook

Admiral Leahy

Who Is Admiral William Leahy?

It’s easy to forget that history happens all around us. And when we grow up in the midst of it, it becomes simply the “normal” background of our lives. Anything unfortunate enough to happen in that background is “ordinary.” This explains why some of William Morris’ hand-printed wallpapers have been painted over andwhy Louis Sullivan’s Midwest architectural jewels are razed.

I think Admiral William D. Leahy has succumbed, at best, to the “ordinary” in Hampton, and, at worst, to obscurity.

When ABCM christened its new Independent and Assisted Living Center “Leahy Grove” I overheard more than one coffee klatcher trying to figure out why. And while last year’s Holly Dazzle historic tour took a small step in shining a new light on Leahy and his contributions, including his ploy to fool the Germans by taking a “holiday” in Hampton on D-Day, we came away thinking that it just wasn’t enough.

What is so special about Admiral Leahy?

Admiral Leahy was the Navy’s first 5 star Admiral. He retired from the navy in 1939, but was reactivated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 and appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Army and Navy, the President of the United States. FDR created the position explicitly so that his friend, Leahy, could “help him run the war.” Leahy was, effectively, though untitled, the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (COJC), and his successor, Omar Bradley, was given the new title.

Admiral Leahy Standing Behind FDR

Leahy was against the testing and use of the atomic bomb, believing that “The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons … My own feeling was that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make wars in that fashion, and that wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” (Leahy, William, I Was There, Whittlesey House 1950, p. 441)

During his “retirement” years of 1939 – 1940, Leahy served as Governor of Puerto Rico. He is remembered there as being one of the most lenient American governors of several that served Puerto Rico in the early 20th century. He followed a policy of not intervening directly in local politics, attempted to understand and respect local customs, and initiated various public works projects. One of his final duties as COJC was mediating between the Government of Puerto Rico and the US Military the involuntary transfer of parts of Puerto Rico to the United States for permanent military use, following which, he resigned.

I like to think that his Iowa roots helped shape Leahy’s character, a character that served him and this country well during a particularly trying time in America and the world. It is right that he be not only remembered, but honored, by a quality, permanent memorial.

A Leahy Memorial Is Being Created
Thanks to the shrinking world created by social media, Lieutenant Paul Mathews from Hampton, currently on active duty with our Navy in Brazil, heard about our efforts about the same time his commander asked him if he knew who Leahy was. The result of these cyber-meetings is the beginning of a plan to create a permanent home in Hampton, under the umbrella of the Franklin County Historical Society.  There will be exhibits that honor Leahy’s contributions and tell this important piece of American History.  A 1/48 scale replica of the ship named after Leahy is in Newport RI at the Surface Warfare Officer School and is acquirable as well.

Mathews has worked with the National Archives to acquire some of Leahy’s possessions, including one of Leahy’s uniforms, a bust signed by FDR, a plaque from President Truman, Admiral Flags, Photos, and Paintings.

The fundraising has begun and we graciously will accept all donations.  Please write a check made payable to FCHS-Leahy and mail it to P.O. Box 144, Hampton Iowa 50441.   Next year you should be able to visit our community and stop by the Leahy Memorial, in the possible location of the G.A.R. Memorial Hall in downtown Hampton!

Fundraising Campaign Underway to Endow County 4-H Scholarship

SHARE YOUR STORY, HELP BRIGHTEN THE FUTURE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY 4-H’ers

HAMPTON, Iowa – February 23, 2012 – Empowering youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults is the mission of the 4-H program.

“We’re on a mission to empower youth right here in Franklin County!” says Darwin Arends, president of the Franklin County 4-H Foundation.   “To help ensure the future of 4-H in our county, we’re on a mission to raise $20,000 to permanently endow a scholarship.  Our primary fundraising effort involves writing a book to tell the stories of past and present 4-H members, county farm families, businesses and historical sites that have played a significant role in the success of our great county.”

All former and current Franklin County residents are invited to share their story in the book we’re writing.  Preserve your family’s story for generations to come by downloading a form from www.lathamseeds.com or pick up a form from the Franklin County Extension Office.

The deadline to submit stories for publication in the book is July 31, 2012.  A $100 minimum contribution is required to have a story published, and a variety of donor levels are available.  Checks should be made payable to the Iowa 4-H Foundation with a memo “Franklin County 4-H Endowment – permanent scholarship fund.”   All proceeds from this book will benefit the Franklin County 4-H Permanent Endowment Fund.

Special thanks to the following businesses and individuals who have already donated toward the Franklin County 4-H Scholarship Endowment:

• Participation Ribbon ($100 to $249)

Brad Staley, Staley Real Estate

• Blue Ribbon ($250 to $499)

Phelp’s Implement
Jeans for Charity

• Trophy ($1,000)

Green Belt Bank
United Bank & Trust

• Reserve Grand Champion Overall ($5,000)

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds

“We can help fulfill the 4-H mission of helping youth ‘reach their full potential’ by encouraging 4-H members to continue their education beyond high school,” says Shannon Latham, who is spearheading the book-writing efforts.  “Many county 4-H’ers can use help achieving their educational goals, so that’s why we’re making endowing a permanent 4-H scholarship a priority.”

Contact Shannon Latham at (515) 371-0450 or shannonl@lathamseeds.com with questions about the book and how to submit an entry.

You can find them in Belmond, Iowa.

You know there’s a story there somewhere.  Yet, I can’t find it online anywhere.

It’s a time to look at what stories of yours are not being told to a larger population.

Get these stories in writing, before there’s no one left who remembers the stories.

Saturday a group of us (gypsy chics) traveled to Randall, Story City and Gilbert to visit various resale shops and have lunch.  I took my phone camera and many pictures were taken.  I found some marvelous ideas for decorating.  If I had my own shop, I would use some of these ideas in my shop.

Please enjoy the photos!  You can view them here

I receive a brief enewsletter from Iowa Tourism.  They always send things most people and businesses around the state can use.  

WINE AND BEER VALENTINE’S DAY PROMOTION 

The Iowa Tourism Office and the Wine & Beer Promotion Board have launched a Valentine’s Day promotion encouraging travelers to visit Iowa wineries and restaurants. The “Iowa Wine & Dine Giveaway” offers a chance to win an iPad2, along with $50 gift certificates to an Iowa winery and Iowa restaurant. Enter here. (http://bit.ly/z3U1Gw )

DOES YOUR FARM OR AG OPERATION GIVE TOURS?
Iowa is known for agri-tourism, and the Tourism Office would like to update its resources for farm and ag tours. Colleen Murphy is collecting information on Iowa farms and agricultural operations that offer tours for groups or individuals.  Complete a questionnaire with the details of your facility and tours, and we’ll keep your information on file for tour requests. Contact Colleen Murphy (colleen.murphy@iowa.gov) for a form and more information.

SHOULD YOU BE A MEMBER OF IOWA TOURISM? 

The Iowa Tourism Office staff will be traveling around the state to attend a general membership meeting in each of the three tourism regions this winter and spring. These “Tourism Town Meetings” offer you a chance to find out more about the work of the Tourism Office and how you can take advantage of partnership opportunities. If you aren’t a member of your region, this is a good time to attend a meeting and find out more about the benefits of region membership. Visit the Central Iowa Tourism Region (www.iowatourism.com) , Western Iowa Tourism Region (www.visitwesterniowa.com ) or Eastern Iowa Tourism Association (www.easterniowatourism.org) websites to fin d out more.

The Central Iowa Tourism Region is home to the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism – and that meeting location has not yet been decided (it’s out for bid) but will occur March 28th somewhere in the Central Region of Iowa.  Why not join us and see if this is something you might consider being a part of? 

http://www.itseasytorecycle.org/grant-program.cfm

I also learned about grants last month – several in fact – from my Google Reader.  Because I receive notifications whenever http://www.mccrayandassoc.com/ posts a blog entry.

Most grants are for nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)3 designation.  However, via a Google search, I found sources for small businesses.

http://www.iowagrantsguide.org/index.php?get=small_businesses

Technology is a wonderful thing – if you can learn how to use it!