This letter is in response to John Romano’s letter, “Iowa pales compared to New York City.” Personally, it all depends on what you are comparing. Hank Williams Jr. said it best in his song “If Heaven Ain’t a Lot Like Dixie”: “Just send me to hell or New York City, it would be about the same to me.” I’ll stick with Iowa.

There are a few things that need to be made clear about Iowa. I do wholeheartedly agree that Iowa should be thought of as a quiet, Midwestern state with corn and clear water, however, I think many non-Iowans may be a little misinformed on what Iowa has to offer. There are many things in my wonderful home state that most ISU students never get to experience, sadly, because most of their time is spent in Ames, Des Moines or on the interstate system.

Iowa has a many landscapes to offer. I come from the middle of nowhere, on a farm, in southwest Iowa. We have more than just corn there including: rolling hills, pastures full of lush green grass, timber and livestock, all of which you can see when you pass through. One thing we are also famous for is our monster white-tail deer. It is one of a kind because of its beauty, peacefulness and the fact that everyone knows each other. Ames and northern Iowa are decent places live, but they do not begin to show the beauty of the state nor the kindness of its people.

I went to high school in Murray, Iowa, and graduated with 17 people. I drove to school at 14 years old, and did not have to deal with even one stoplight. With this said, I believe I can speak for those who are fans of the small-town Iowa scene. In places similar to where I attended school, there are people who plan to grow up and move away to a metropolis, but many of them come running back.

I, however, never want to leave. We all grew up without big-city amenities that most others wouldn’t dream of living without. We only went to Des Moines to buy school clothes or go to the State Fair. We were perfectly happy without “city luxuries”; our luxuries were at home. The best cuisine was cooked in a kitchen, not a restaurant. It was prepared fresh, and handled only by those you knew, plus it was cheap (when my family comes back to visit they prefer to eat at my grandma’s house for every meal).

It’s not only the cuisine that is better in Iowa. The most fun is not an arcade, a play or an opera; it is fishing, hunting and many other outdoor  activities that float our boats (or canoes). The point I am trying to make is, we do not need, or desire, all of the things that Romano mentions. Many Iowans prefer not to spend their hard-earned money on city luxuries, therefore, there is no demand. If people around here want those things, they usually take a vacation.

The place you choose to live will only be as good as how much you like it and the things it has to offer. If you can put up with the lack of food and entertainment diversity, love clean water and air, and enjoy a friendly population with low crime rates, Iowa could be the place for you. For those of you who dislike Iowa and think that it sucks, just remember that nobody forced you to come here. You can leave anytime, and chances are most Iowans don’t like you either.

And don’t forget Iowa is not just corn. We grow other things, too.