Let’s hear it for the Heartland…

I’ve lived among the trees and lakes in northern Wisconsin for many a year. Putting up with winter especially in March and April when most of the culitzed world is having a thing called spring is a little trying. But when our spring comes (June) we look forward to summer (July) then to fall (August).

To the south of here the heartland farmers are already engaged in this year’s planting and hope for a good growing season. Having been a lad and walked the cornfields of Iowa and Illinois with my grandfather and father I have a feeling for the land ( Iowa) that others see flat and boring. I have hopefully passed this feeling onto my son taking him hunting in the fall.

Another thought is the business end of the people that till the land. Many people, mostly city folks, grumble about the about the taxes they pay the government to help support the farm folks. Then they head the local Jewel Food store and grumble about the high prices of food stuffs. Stopping at the local gas station they grumble about the high cost of gasoline. They even grumble about the returns they are getting from the bank and their investments in the stock market.

These chronic grumblers have risked a lot less then the heartland farmers whose fortune are tied into the weather, grain speculators and huge subsidized farmers in other counties. So hats off to ethanol burning cars and truck engines, pass the corn flakes please.

P.S. If any of you think Iowa is flat and boring I’ll take you on a fall hunt. If you last a day I’ll buy you a ‘Made Rite’ dinner and corn fritters on the side.