I had the pleasure yesterday of driving through some of America’s heartland and I am humbled. For two hours field after field after field of corn and soybeans, which are easy to grow in this part of the state (MN). Our B&B hostess says where she comes from it’s beets, potatoes and soy beans. And to think that is only a small part of what our wonderful farmers produce. I really can’t express my joy in seeing something I have only ever imagined as I have never been to the midwest before. And to think how our Great Plains are mostly all like this with various crops.
I have relatives who are farmers. They work VERY hard and are very solid productive people. I am impressed whenever we visit (they are distant relatives, so that is not all that often).
My grandparents were farmers and it was a joy to spend weeks on the farm in summertime as a kid. I’ve always lived in the Midwest and I practically giggle with glee when I drive through our state to visit my D in the late spring and summer. The neatly planted rows of corn and soybeans for miles, landscape dotted with farm houses and barns, will never get old. To me it’s as beautiful a sight as the mountains and beaches.
Our D had to be pleaded with and begged to get her to leave the farm we stayed at that was a B&B in PA Dutch Company. She loved the baby animals. We also loved rowing the boat and S loved being able to drive the tractor and see the fields.
My dad grew up in NW Missouri and I have cousins in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Driving through miles and miles of corn and sunflowers never gets old.
We went to Fallingwater in SW PA this weekend and the countryside is stunning. Whatever soil is tillable gets planted. PIcked up freshly picked sweet corn on the way home.
I went to college in Colorado and drove many times from NY to CO and back. I absolutely got tired of hour after hour after hour of nothing but corn fields with only the farm reports on the radio (it was the 40 years ago.)
You couldn’t pay me to do that drive again.
I love farms, but corn and soybeans leave me a bit cold. They are more industrial agriculture and it’s sad that some farmers only grow them.
Vineyards, orchards, sunflowers, pecan groves and veggies are a different story.
A good reminder for us who see these fields in our everyday lives and forget the impact. 
I’d encourage you to also try and visit a Midwest farmer’s market this time of year - OVERFLOWING with beautiful vegetables, fruits and flowers freshly picked. There couldn’t be a more happy place!
I can’t speak for the midwest, but I imagine the California central valley has a similar vibe. We drive through the western part of the valley every year or so and I find it to be quite gorgeous in certain areas, especially near the hills. I can definitely see why that lifestyle appeals to some people. B-)
We as a nation are amazingly blessed.
I’m on Long Island-- the wonder you guys see in the heartland I find at the beach. Others find it in our mountains and lakes.
But the ability to grow the food that feeds so many of our people-- again, amazingly blessed.
I teach English to new entry adult refugees and are fortunate to have a weekly farmers market near our upper midwest school.
The joy and wonder that we see in the eyes of the new students experiencing their first trip to the market is truly heart warming.
We have only 3 or 4 more trips to take out through the Palouse, rolling plains of wheat and lentils, and about as picturesque as a farm field can get. D graduates in December and there is not much more reason to head out that way.
When I was young we crossed the country 10 times with nothing but an AM radio. Farm reports, Christian preachers, and country music.
We have dear friends in the central valley north up Hwy 99 in northern CA. Best peaches on earth. Every year we go out to visit and we eat freshly picked food the entire time. The trucks rumble down the road heaped to overflowing with tomatoes en route to the canning factories. Still lots of nut trees, though some orchards have replaced them with more-water-efficient trees.
I’ve lived in the rural Midwest my entire life. I see corn and beans every day and they give me great joy–from popping up in little rows to knee high to tasseling to golden brown. The tassels undulate like wheat when it’s breezy.
Spent today at our great State Fair, appreciating our rural heritage and seeing all the hard work of our youth pay off in the show ring. It’s not about the ribbons and trophies. Sure, they are great, but it’s really about relationships, lifelong friendships, and lessons learned.
I feel very blessed I could rear my children in the rural ag lifestyle. I’m keen on children having responsibility and being able to work hard, physically as well as mentally. Raising livestock and/or crops fills the bill on all counts, as well as being very personally rewarding.
D attended school in Rochester, NY. We know when we were getting close on the NY Thruway when moving her in each August when we saw the huge field of sunflowers on the north side of the highway, westbound. Gorgeous.