A month or so ago, Iowa Corn Growers Association contacted me to see if I would be willing to come visit them (along with 9 other bloggers) for a few days to learn more about corn. A Corn-Quest is what they called it.  Corny right??  Haa haaa haaaa! I have never been to Iowa and I know about sweet, sweet corn on the cob, cream corn, corn syrup and grits. I said SURE! Why not. As I told friends and family of the new adventure I was about to take, I got LOTS of comments. “Corn? Why?” or “Oh that sounds like fun” but the most common of questions was why. Honestly it was a bit in my head as well. I LOVE learning new things and that was my main objective, but seriously, how much more can you learn about corn??!

Guess what. You can learn a LOT! I learned so much in fact, that I will need to do a few posts to pass on all of the great information I am still absorbing. I learned about corn and it’s role in the whole farming cycle. I learned about beef (mmmmmm beeeeeeef), about soy and about pork (mmmmmmm porrrrk! BACON!)  I even got to visit Meredith Corp. You know them. Home of Better Homes and Gardens?  Yeah THAT!

For today I am going to fill your brain with images of my Iowa (yes, it’s mine now because I love it).  What I have taken away from this trip is that Iowa is family. The “big corporate” farms for the most part, are just mom and pops that have built and expanded and have had their farm for many generations. Their need for a corporation is strictly for business purposes, to keep their business afloat, thriving. They are all connected somehow. Farmers of corn and soy, cattlemen, pig farmers, even race car drivers. Yup. Race car drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I plan on telling you all about these pictures. Today I just want to share the images. I strongly encourage you to visit the beautiful women I met and adore. Their blogs are gorgeous as are they.

Shari of Tickled Red

Lisa of Snappy Gourmet

Tina of My Life as a Mrs.

Carrian of Oh Sweet Basil

Rebecca of Foodie with Family

Janelle of Talk of Tomatoes

Kelley of Mountain Mama Cooks

Julie of Table for Two

Ali of Gimme Some Oven

Be good sweet readers. But not too good. That’s boring ;)

Disclaimer: The Iowa Corn Association payed for my traveling expenses as well as hosted me while in Iowa. I was in no way compensated for writing this post. Thoughts, ideas and photos are all mine.