The good ol’ Midwest. It’s where I was born and raised and where I hope to stay. I like to call myself “A Midwest Girl” because I can’t identify with just one or two states. I think I can speak for the Midwest because I was born in Illinois, raised in Wisconsin, my dad is from Michigan (my sports affiliations lie there), and I go to college in Minnesota. I am also slightly biased toward these states. . . sorry. The Midwest: a collection of states that all share a similar culture of food, sports, recreation, and lifestyle where we embrace it and where an inch of snow is absolutely nothing. The Midwest, home to Chicago, The Great Lakes, Mall of America, The Big 10, and countless music festivals. We have some of the most beautiful landscapes and most beautiful seasons. The Midwest is basically an extension of Canada, and how can you not love Canada? We have a lot to brag about, but because of “Midwest Nice” (or Minnesota Nice for all Minnesotans) we don’t. Instead of bragging, I’m going to thank each state for the amazing things they’ve given the country.
From West to East.
The Dakotas (Sorry you’re getting lumped together.)
Thank you for Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and the Black Hills.
Minnesota
Thank you for the Twin Cities, Target, your lakes, Tater Tot Hotdish (or casserole), Prince, and your many hockey players.
Iowa
Thank you for the Field of Dreams and corn.
Missouri
Thank you for St. Louis, being the Gateway to the West, Mark Twain, and Anheuser-Busch.
Illinois
Thank you for Chicago, deep-dish pizza, Lollapalooza, John Hughes, Six Flags, Abraham Lincoln, and Jimmy John’s.
Wisconsin
Thank you for your cheese and cheese curds, Door County, Summerfest, Lake Michigan beaches, your breweries, and Culver’s.
Michigan
Thank you for your cars, Mackinac Island, Lake Michigan, Huron and Erie, Little Caesar’s, your state parks, and Eminem.
Indiana
Thank you for Parks and Recreation, Michael Jackson, and (I suppose) the Indie 500.
Ohio
Thank you for the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point.
We are not just a large mass of corn, farms, and cows. The rest of the country often forgets about us; we deep fry almost everything we can and smother it in cheese and ranch dressing, and the three drunkest cities in America are all within an hour of each other in Wisconsin. We are not to be overlooked because without us there would be no auto industry, no Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club (thank you John Hughes), and no Great Lakes. That is not a world I’d want to live in.