[ckissick]

I guess Iowa has had a certain reputation for a long time. Meredith Willson wrote this for The Music Man in the 1950s.

Iowa Stubborn

Oh, there's nothing halfway,
About the Iowa way to treat you,
When we treat you,
Which we may not do at all!

There's an Iowa kind,
A kind-a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude,
We've never been without that we recall!

We can be cold as the falling
Thermometer in December if you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by-gone stubborn, we can
Stand touching noses for a week at a time,
And never see eye-to-eye.

But what the heck!
You're welcome,
Join us at the picnic.
You can have your fill of all the food you bring yourself.
You really ought to give Iowa a try,
Provided you are contrary.

We can be cold as our falling
Thermometers in December if you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by-gone stubborn, we can
Stand touching noses for a week at a time,
And never see eye-to-eye.

But we'll give you our shirt,
And a back to go with it,
If your crop should happen to die.
So what the heck!
You're welcome!
Glad to have you with us!
Even though we may not ever mention it again!

You really ought to give Iowa,
Hawk-eye, Iowa,
Dubuque, Des Moines, Davenport, Marshaltown, Mason City, Ke-o-kuk, Ames,
Clearlake!
Ought to give Iowa a try!