B y : C a l e N e l s o n. Cale Nelson The Iowa’s agriculture is one of the best in the world. Iowa has at least 11,000 different soils in it’s ground.

IOWA ABC BOOK

By: Cale Nelson

A IS FOR AGRICULTURECale Nelson

The Iowa’s agriculture is one of the best in the world. Iowa has at least 11,000 different soils in it’s ground. Iowa is number one in corn and soybean production in the U.S. Farmers in Iowa harvested 13.9 million acres of corn and 8.52 million acres of soybeans in 2007. Iowa’s agriculture is really good.

B is for Black HawkCale Nelson

When Chief Black Hawk was very young he became a brave. Black Hawk was a War Chief who led his Sauk tribe to war. Black Hawk went to prison for fighting for his land in Iowa. He refused to give in without a fight.

C IS FOR CARDIFF GIANTCale Nelson

The Cardiff Giant was 10 ft. tall and weighed 2,990 pounds. The Cardiff Giant was uncovered on November, 29th, 1869 in Albany, New York. A replica of the Cardiff Giant was made out of gypsum and is in the Fort Dodge and Frontier Village in Fort Dodge.

Cale Nelson

D is for Des Moines

Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. The Iowa State Fair is in Des Moines. Des Moines was founded in 1843. The mayor of the city is Frankie Cownie. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa.

E is for Eastern Gold FinchCale Nelson

The Eastern Gold Finch is the Iowa state bird. The Iowa Legislative made the Eastern Gold Finch the state bird in 1933. The Eastern Gold Finch mainly eats dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed, and evening primrose. In late July through early August they build their nests with thistledown. The baby birds leave the mother’s nest when they are 2 to 3 weeks old.

F IS FOR FARM DAIRIESCale Nelson

Iowa is 8th in total dairy production in the U.S. In Iowa there were 1,802 dairy cow farms in 2009. Iowa produced 4.38 billion pounds of milk in 2009. Dairy cow farms in Iowa produce milk for the whole U.S.

G is for GeodeCale Nelson

The geode is the state rock of Iowa. The geode was made the Iowa state rock in 1967. Iowa is known worldwide because of it’s rare and beautiful geodes found in the state.

H IS FOR HERBERT HOOVERCale Nelson

Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa on August 10, 1874. Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States. He was the first president to be a millionaire. He was going to be an engineer, businessman, or a humanitarian.

I is for Ioway Indian TribeCale Nelson

The Ioway Indian Tribe was the first indian tribe that inhabitated the state of Iowa and surrounding states of Iowa too. The Ioway Indians are closely related to the Otoe and Missouri Indians. Iowa got there name from the Ioway Indians.

J is for Julien DubuqueCale Nelson

Julien Dubuque was the first white man to make his home in Iowa. Julien persuaded Indian Cheifs from the Fox Indian Tribe to let him work in their lead mines. Julien Dubuque and indians from the tribe built a mill to be run by horse power and a furnace to smelt the lead ore

into lead bars. In 1810, Julien Dubuque died at the lead mines and the Indians buried him on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

K is for KeokukCale Nelson

Keokuk was the chief for the Sauk Tribe. Keokuk was a brave warrior and a good speaker. When his own tribe wanted to attack the United States because they tricked them into taking their land he argued that the United States would never trust them again. The warriors did not fight against the United States. Keokuk was known because he was a good speaker.

L is for Loess HillsCale Nelson

The Loess Hills covers 640,000 acres in Iowa. The Mill Greek and Glenwood cultures were in the area between 1,000-1,300 AD. They made pottery, tools, and other artifacts when they were in the Loess Hills. In the southwestern part of Loess Hills there are many 800 year old earth lodges.

M IS FOR EFFIGY MOUNDSCale Nelson

The Effigy Mounds were built by indians from 500 BC until the Europeans arrived. The Effigy Mounds National Monument was built on October25, 1949 in the Allamakee and Clayton counties. The Effigy Mounds National Monument is the largest known collection mounds in the United States.

N is for Northern Iowa UniversityCale Nelson

Northern Iowa University is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There are 13,080 students in the college. There are 16 varsity sports in Northern Iowa University. The mascots are TC [The Cat] Panther and TK [The Kitten] Panther. In 1876, Northern Iowa became a college.

O IS FOR OAK TREECale Nelson

The oak tree is the Iowa state tree. Iowa made the oak tree the state tree in 1961. The oak tree was chosen because it provides shelter, food, and nesting cover for birds and many animals. Oak trees are so common in Iowa that every where you look in Iowa’s natural woodland you would see at least one kind of oak tree. Acorns are the nuts of oak trees. Acorns are a favorite food for wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, blue jay, nuthatches, grackles, and woodpeckers.

P is for Zebulon PikeCale Nelson

Zebulon Pike was sent by a general who was a double agent for Spain to find sites for forts. He had to find sites for forts because they wanted to make peace between warring tribes and stop unlicensed British trade on land just acquired by the Americans. Zebulon Pike was born in Lamberton, New Jersey which is now part of Trenton, New Jersey.

Q is for Quaker Oats CompanyCale Nelson

The Quaker Oats Company is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Quaker Oats Company makes our favorite foods such as Chewy Granola and Simple Harvest. In 1981, the Quaker Oats Company introduced the Chewy Granola Bar. The Quaker Oats Company makes many of our great foods today.

R is forCale Nelson

In 1854, workers began to start making railroads in Iowa. Railroads helped people travel to the western part of the state in the late 1800’s. The largest railroad company in Iowa is the Union Pacific Railroad.

S is for Sod HousesCale Nelson

Sod houses were mostly located in northwestern Iowa. Sod houses were built out of mud, dirt, grass, and timber. Pioneers were the ones to live in sod houses. In the 1800’s sod houses were mostly built.

T is for John ToddCale Nelson

John Todd was the founder of Tabor College in Tabor, Iowa. He was also the founder of Tabor’s Congregational Church which he served as a pastor for more than 30 years. In Tabor, Iowa the Todd House was built in 1853 around the time when John Todd moved to Tabor as a co-founder Tabor and Tabor College.

U is for University of Iowa State

Cale Nelson

The University of Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa. There are more than 28,000 students at Iowa State. There mascot is Cy the cardinal. Iowa State provides a lot about engineering and science.

V is for James Van AllenCale Nelson

James Van Allen went to the University of Iowa. He was an American space scientist. He was known for the Van Allen radiation belts. The Van Allen radiation belt is a torus of energetic charged particles around Earth.

W IS FOR WILD ROSECale Nelson

The Wild Rose is the Iowa State flower. It was named the state flower in1897. The Wild Rose was chosen because it was a decoration on the silver service which Iowa presented to the battleship USS Iowa the same year it was chosen. The Wild Roses are found throughout Iowa and they bloom from June through late summer.

X is for XeniaCale Nelson

Xenia is in the country of Hardin. Xenia is famous for it’s good water. Xenia provides water for places in central Iowa.

Y IS FORCale Nelson

Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and he was a settler in the western United States. He was also the founder of Salt Lake City and was the first governor of Utah Territory. The college Brigham Young University was named after him.

Z is for Blank Park ZooCale Nelson

The Blank Park Zoo is in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1963, A.H. Bank donated $150,000 to make a children’s zoo in Des Moines. The Blank Park Zoo was first opened May 8th , 1966. The Blank Park Zoo is now opened every Thursday through Sunday from 10am until 4pm. The Blank Park Zoo has many animals.

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