2009 Farm and Rural life Poll

I agree with Gordon Arbuckle’s view that a lot of farmer’s are getting older with no replacements because, as recent research has shown in Iowa, 42 percent of farmers plan to retire in the next five years.  Also, only about 50 percent of the retire farmers have a know successor.  That is close to a fourth of  Iowa ‘s farmers with out a successor.  These ideas support my argument that young adults need to start farming.  This problem is not only in Iowa but is nationwide as well.  Farming is a very important job that is essential to our growing population.  I do not understand why people would not want to farm.  It might be hard labor at times but you are your own boss and can work around your schedule making you somewhat flexible.  Also since you cannot farm during the winter, you get long breaks off.  Farming also gives many benefits with it as well as a fun and enjoyable lifestyle.  Even though farmers do not have a fixed income with hard work it can be very financially rewarding.   I hate when people (my city slicker cousins) try to make fun of me because they think there is nothing in the country to do other than eat corn in bib overalls.  But really I can do just about everything they can.  So people should not rule out farming because of it’s location.  Yes, farming is not for everyone but with hard work and dedication you can make a very comfortable life for you and your family.     

Are Potatoes Vegetables?

Through out my senior year in high school my class was divided between people who thought potatoes were vegetables and people who thought they weren’t.  It might be a silly thing to argue over, but it is still a good question to ask.  I am sure there is science behind it arguing for one side or the other but right now my mind is made up that it is defiantly not a vegetable.  Yes, like probably every other vegetable it is nutritious but there are many other things that are nutritious that are not vegetables as well.  Vegetables are very noticeable by there colors of mostly green as well as orange, yellow, etc.  I have never seen or heard of a vegetable with such a boring dark color as brown.  They seem more of roots to me with their spores and everything.  Plus, when you go to McDonalds and get a large fry can you really say you’re eating a vegetable?  I thought vegetables were suppose increase your dietary health not worsen it.  When you go to nicer restaurants as well don’t they usually give you sides of some sort of potato and a vegetable?  Notice how they do not give you the choice of a potato as a vegetable.  To add to my argument I am almost positive they belong to another food group on the food pyramid.  From the food pyramids I have seen they are in the grain and starches group rather than the vegetable group.  Potatoes are so much different from every other vegetable in to many ways for it to actually be one. 

How ICC has Changed my Life

ICC has changed my life around in a very positive way.  Since I got in trouble with my school for violating the drug and alcohol policy twice I was kicked out of all clubs and sports. Clubs and sports were my life in high school and since I could not be in any there was no point for me to stay there Also, Delavan High School is very small which limited my class choices.  Being third in my class I did not want to take blow off classes and instead decided to graduate early to try to get college credits before I go off to a big university.  Because of ICC I should be ahead of the game before I step foot on A big universities campus and it has also gave more confidence going to a big school.  I have some what knowledge how much work and effort you must put into school now.  The point of this topic is the ICC has turned my life around and will help me better transition into a big college than my high school could which in the end could hopefully make me more successful in the near future.  Hard work and determination is the felt sense I get when thinking of this topic.  Although by graduating early and losing my senior year I have put myself in a situation that requires more effort out of me, it should come back and help me further in the end.  By taking all of my transferable classes at ICC I should be saving some money on school, get a head start at Purdue, and be more prepared for the rigors that Purdue has to offer.