The term “Iowa nice” started out as a compliment, but some of our wisecracking neighbors have begun using it when they want to insinuate that we Iowans are naive or ignorant or simply not as smart as they are. Well, if the worst thing they can call us is nice, then we should take that with a smile.
Most of you reading this have heard stories of farmers helping other farmers in times of need, specifically when disease or hardship hits a family and neighbors pitch in to help with planting, harvesting, livestock, etc. It’s just what you do when your friends are in need. And, thankfully, it’s not just Iowans, and not just farmers, who feel this way.
Just last week, I learned that our printer, Page 1 Printers in Slayton, Minnesota, caught on fire. The staff there said it “wasn’t bad,” but have you ever known a fire to be good? I haven’t. When my car caught on fire in college, my dad told me I should have let it burn. He was right. But when your home or business is on fire, that’s a different story.
Those working at the plant did their best to keep the flames under control, and they did, despite suffering some smoke inhalation. What happened next is truly “Iowa nice,” or maybe “Minnesota nice.” Much like our farming friends, others started pitching in to help out. Our magazine covers were already completed, but the inside pages were printed at another plant and then stitched together somewhere else again. Then a truck delivered them in the wee hours of the morning to be sure that our timelines were met.
With so much consolidation in the printing industry, there simply aren’t many printing plants left. Those that are seem to be owned by daily newspaper corporations that often put their needs ahead of their customers’. I don’t know if we are Page 1 Printers’ largest customer or not, but they sure make us feel like we are, and that’s what is important.
You can call it Iowa nice… even in Minnesota.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman President and Publisher Big Green Umbrella Media shane@dmcityview.com 515-953-4822, ext. 305 |