.

[kcbob79clone]

Can't forget Audubon Iowa with the world's largest statue of a bull, Albert (it's my hometown)

I'm from Perry so I've seen Albert many times

 

[theshadow]

I remember a prof at ISU claiming this back in the day. We had some kind of ISU indoctrination class my freshman year where you learned about the history of the institution. Can't remember what it was called, but I remember that factoid.

It's certainly a well-traveled story, but it doesn't make sense from a geography standpoint. Nevada is roughly in the center of the county (like most county seats), providing for equidistant access. Ames, being several miles farther west, would have been a terrible spot for a county seat from the perspective of Zearing/Colo/Maxwell residents.

 

[Cyched]

Everytime I go to Omaha I realize how ugly western Iowa is. I'm assuming there's a flood plain there that makes it flat and boring. Certainly compared to eastern Iowa. Area around Marshalltown has a lot more hills than you'd expect, too.

It's weird how mississippi river caused bluffs and missouri river caused floodplain

Traveling along I-80 there are some nice rolling hills that don’t look bad - all farmland, but still.

I do agree that I-29 between the bluffs and river is rough

 

[HFCS]

Iowa is the world leader in per capita consumption of Busch Lite, ranch dressing, and Moutain Dew.

When I waited tables in college it wouldn't be uncommon for a customer to order 5-10 sides of ranch with their meal. Not for their salad, to use on almost every other part of the meal.

I spent most of my shift carrying sides of ranch...the bold strategy was to look at someone and bring them 2 or 3 sides at once. That could go either way. You can be the best ranch waiter ever and they love all the extra sides...or they can think you're insulting them.

I used to have this vision where I'd bring an IV stand to the table and just tap a huge bag of ranch directly into their bloodstream it annoyed me so bad. A few dishes that didn't come with ranch I'd just automatically bring ranch before people even asked because I didn't want to come back to the table. It was out of control.

 

[kcbob79clone]

When I waited tables in college it wouldn't be uncommon for a customer to order 5-10 sides of ranch with their meal. Not for their salad, to use on almost every other part of the meal.

I spent most of my shift carrying sides of ranch...the bold strategy was to look at someone and bring them 2 or 3 sides at once. That could go either way. You can be the best ranch waiter ever and they love all the extra sides...or they can think you're insulting them.

I used to have this vision where I'd bring an IV stand to the table and just tap a huge bag of ranch directly into their bloodstream it annoyed me so bad. A few dishes that didn't come with ranch I'd just automatically bring ranch before people even asked because I didn't want to come back to the table. It was out of control.

"I'm just here for the ranch dressing" has to be one of the most iconic Iowa and Iowa Caucus moments

 

[Gunnerclone]

Everytime I go to Omaha I realize how ugly western Iowa is. I'm assuming there's a flood plain there that makes it flat and boring. Certainly compared to eastern Iowa. Area around Marshalltown has a lot more hills than you'd expect, too.

It's weird how mississippi river caused bluffs and missouri river caused floodplain

Being Columbus for awhile now has given me a greater appreciation of what “flat” really is. I was back in DSM two weeks ago driving up grand out of the EV up towards the capitol and I looked south and it felt almost mountainous.

 

[HFCS]

Everytime I go to Omaha I realize how ugly western Iowa is. I'm assuming there's a flood plain there that makes it flat and boring. Certainly compared to eastern Iowa. Area around Marshalltown has a lot more hills than you'd expect, too.

It's weird how mississippi river caused bluffs and missouri river caused floodplain

It's specifically 80 between Des Moines and Omaha that is so empty. I'm from Sioux City. Ames to Sioux City on more northern routes is a lot more scenic drive than 80 between Omaha and Des Moines.

NW Iowa land has some variety with lots of hills and bluffs, I've never spent much time in SW Iowa.

 

[Cyched]

When I waited tables in college it wouldn't be uncommon for a customer to order 5-10 sides of ranch with their meal. Not for their salad, to use on almost every other part of the meal.

I spent most of my shift carrying sides of ranch...the bold strategy was to look at someone and bring them 2 or 3 sides at once. That could go either way. You can be the best ranch waiter ever and they love all the extra sides...or they can think you're insulting them.

I used to have this vision where I'd bring an IV stand to the table and just tap a huge bag of ranch directly into their bloodstream it annoyed me so bad. A few dishes that didn't come with ranch I'd just automatically bring ranch before people even asked because I didn't want to come back to the table. It was out of control.

I don’t hate ranch dressing, but I’ve never understood the love affair most Iowans have for it (and I’m a lifelong Iowan).

 

[HFCS]

"I'm just here for the ranch dressing" has to be one of the most iconic Iowa and Iowa Caucus moments

Yeah, that was the most Iowa thing of all time.

Presidential candidates are so common and typical that they get in the way of the never ending quest for ranch dressing.

 

[Gunnerclone]

It's specifically 80 between Des Moines and Omaha that is so empty. I'm from Sioux City. Ames to Sioux City on more northern routes is a lot more scenic drive than 80 between Omaha and Des Moines.

NW Iowa land has some variety with lots of hills and bluffs, I've never spent much time in SW Iowa.

A look at glaciation maps is pretty fascinating when it comes to Iowa.

 

[HFCS]

I don’t hate ranch dressing, but I’ve never understood the love affair most Iowans have for it (and I’m a lifelong Iowan).

I'm not a big ketchup guy either. But I'm guessing Iowans will use ranch on french fries 4 to 1 over ketchup if given the choice.

 

[Cyched]

I'm not a big ketchup guy either. But I'm guessing Iowans will use ranch on french fries 4 to 1 over ketchup if given the choice.

I’ve done ranch with B Bops and Wingstop fries before, and it’s pretty tasty.

Otherwise:

I prefer blue cheese dressing for buffalo wings.

I’ve never felt compelled to dip my pizza in it.

There’s at least 5 salad dressings I’d choose before ranch.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’ve done ranch with B Bops and Wingstop fries before, and it’s pretty tasty.

Otherwise:

I prefer blue cheese dressing for buffalo wings.

I’ve never felt compelled to dip my pizza in it.

There’s at least 5 salad dressings I’d choose before ranch.

The house-made ranches can be good from places like the Airliner in Iowa City for example.

I’m a French guy though for salad.

 

[Cyched]

The house-made ranches can be good from places like the Airliner in Iowa City for example.

I’m a French guy though for salad.

French, Dorothy Lynch and honey mustard are my go tos

 

[NorthCyd]

I remember being told by a professor at ISU that due to wind breaks, and shrub trees that grow up in fencelines (no grazing or prairie fire pressure) that Iowa actually has more trees today than at the time of European settlement.

Yeah, I remember being told the same thing. Probably a bit of a generalization. Probably more true on the lobe and than other parts of Iowa. I think I remember hearing from the same professor if current temperature and precipitation trends continued during this interglacial Iowa would eventually end up being mostly deciduous forest if left undisturbed.

 

[HFCS]

I’ve done ranch with B Bops and Wingstop fries before, and it’s pretty tasty.

Otherwise:

I prefer blue cheese dressing for buffalo wings.

I’ve never felt compelled to dip my pizza in it.

There’s at least 5 salad dressings I’d choose before ranch.

Another thing I found interesting waiting tables in Iowa in the late 90s.

Over 55ish...it's Roquefort every time, not blue cheese.

I guess now it'd be over 75 so the Roquefort request probably becoming more rare.

Weirdest thing I ever saw ranch used for was a lady poured three sides of it into her fettuccine alfredo pasta and stirred it up.

 

[kcbob79clone]

Being Columbus for awhile now has given me a greater appreciation of what “flat” really is. I was back in DSM two weeks ago driving up grand out of the EV up towards the capitol and I looked south and it felt almost mountainous.

Western Kansas is FLAT and I-80 in Utah across the Bonneville Salt Flats is FLAT. As someone who has driven both those and Western Iowa, Iowa is rolling, not flat.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Western Kansas is FLAT and I-80 in Utah across the Bonneville Salt Flats is FLAT. As someone who has driven both those and Western Iowa, Iowa is rolling, not flat.

It’s definitely a weird stereotype of Iowa. I guess people think fields need to be flat. Another are I’ve spent time in that is FLAT is on I-80 between Sacramento CA and Walnut, CA where you hit the BART station to go in to SF. Specifically around Davis.

 

[Cyclone06]

Iowa was the first state to legalize gay marriage as I recall. And frankly, I am rather proud of that.

 

[KnappShack]

Another thing I found interesting waiting tables in Iowa in the late 90s.

Over 55ish...it's Roquefort every time, not blue cheese.

I guess now it'd be over 75 so the Roquefort request probably becoming more rare.

Weirdest thing I ever saw ranch used for was a lady poured three sides of it into her fettuccine alfredo pasta and stirred it up.

That ranch abuse has to shave a couple of years off of life expectancy

Can't stand the stuff myself