1. IOWA ABC BOOK
BY: BROCK BRENSEL

2. A is for Agriculture
92% of Iowa’s land is devoted to agriculture. Iowa’s in the lead in production of corn, soybeans, and pork. Also Iowa’s in second in egg production.

3. B is for Black Hawk
Black Hawk was a war chief who led his Sauk tribe to war. He went to prison for fighting for his land in Iowa. He refused to give in without a fight.

4. C is for Corn
Iowa’s in the lead of corn production for 14 years. In an average year, we produce more corn than most whole countries. Corn has been the dominant crop for more than 150 years.

5. D is for Des Moines
Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. It’s original name is Fort Raccoon. It was founded in De Moines has been the 3rd largest insurance capital of the world, after London, England, and Hartford, Connecticut.

6. E is for Eastern Goldfinch
The Eastern Goldfinch has been Iowa’s state bird since It is also called the American Goldfinch or Wild Canary. It is found throughout Iowa. It often stays throughout winter months.

7. F is for Farms
Iowa’s total cash receipts for commodities in 2009 totaled more than $21 billion. Iowa has 92,600 farms. Land in farms cover 30.8 million acres.

8. G is for Geodes
Geodes are Iowa's state rock. Geodes are rocks that are plain on the outside, and can have beautiful crystals in the inside. They are created in animal burrows, tree roots, and in the bubbles of volcanic rocks.

9. H is for Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover was born on August 10, 1874 in West Branch, Iowa. He was the first president born in Iowa. He was the 31st president from 1929 – 1933.

10. I is for Iowa Territory
Iowa was a territory from July 4,1838 to December 28, It was a territory back then when there was no such things as states. It was a territory instead.

11. J is for John Wayne
John Wayne was a movie star born in Winterset, Iowa. He was married and divorced 3 times. All 3 of his wives were Hispanic.

12. K is for Keokuk
Chief Keokuk was an Indian Sauk Leader. He was a member of the Fox Clan. He was born in Rock River, Illinois. He was one of the men responsible for starting the Black Hawk War.

13. L is for Loess Hills
The Loess Hills stretch from Westfield, Iowa to Mound City, Missouri. They have abundant oak- hickory hardwood forests, and some of the last remaining stands of prairie grass in the region.

14. M is for Missouri River
The Missouri River is the 15th longest river in the world. It is 2,341 miles long. The Missouri River drainage area is 529,350 square miles, one- sixth of the entire USA.

15. N is for Newton, Iowa
It was where the first washing machine created in Iowa. The company was the Maytag washing machine company founded by Frederick Maytag. It was a million dollar business.

16. O is for Oak trees
Oak trees are Iowa’s state tree. There are about 60 different kinds. Only 13 are in Iowa. Some examples are red and bur oak trees.

17. P is for Pigs
The Iowa pork industries generate nearly $950,000 million in household incomes. They get this for pork producing and for caring for hogs. More than 39,000 jobs are directly related to raising hogs.

18. Q is for Quaker Oats
Quaker Oats Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has 300 employees. Every year it’s annual sale is over $1 billion.

19. R is for Ronald Regan
He was a Iowa radio sports announcer. He won a contract to Hollywood. He was in 153 films. He was our 40th president.

20. S is for squirrel Cage Jail
Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was a rotary jail. It served from Sep to Dec It was America’s largest rotary jail.

21. T is for Tony Moeaki
He went to the University of Iowa. He was part of the infamous Iowa recruiting class of He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs now.

22. U is for Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad was the first transcontinental railroad. It took a very long time to build. Finally, it was built in 1903.

23. V is for Vietnam War
The Vietnam War started on November 19, 1955 to April 30, It lasted 20 years. It was in the French colony of Indochina.

24. W is for Western Stage Company
The Western Stage Company started in It was called the Diamond trail. By 1855, a major southern branch of the Diamond Trail connected through Hinkle town, and it linked trails and traffic from the Mississippi communities to Burlington and Muscatine westward all the way to Des moines.

25. X is for Xavier Basilica Church
The Xavier Basilica Church is located in Dyersville, Iowa. It is one of the only 52 basilicas in the U.S. It is named in honor of the missionaries Saint Francis Xavier

26. Y is for Young, Brigham
Brigham Young was born in He joined Quorum of the 12 Apostles as one of its augural. He found University of Deseret. He also found Brigham Young Academy.

27. Z is for Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike was born in 1779 to He was a American soldier and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. His Pike expedition mapped much of the southern portion of the Louisiana purchase.

28. THE END