All sale items are final sale. Thank you for your understanding and happy shopping!

Big Dreams, Small Towns

Map dot. One horse town. Stop sign on a blacktop. The backbone of America. Small town, USA.

There seems to be a common misconception that big dreams can’t succeed in small town, rural America, and while that may have held true to some extent fifty years ago, it doesn’t hold up in today’s internet age. When I started Heart of the Midwest, I had a ton of people ask me where my storefront was going to be because where would I possibly have one in the entire county that would get the traffic it needed to survive? With internet and social media, I’m able to run a shop and share my farming story from my tiny corner of the universe.

Speaking of my tiny little corner of the universe…

Good ole Dana has been around since the 1870s and not much has changed since then. Just kidding…kind of. At around 400 people (I think?) it’s not exactly the burgeoning metropolis my grandma talks about in the memories of her teenage years, but it’s not too bad. The most famous person to come from the first town you hit when you enter the Hoosier state from the west is Ernie Pyle, the WWII correspondent. (Yes, we all know that was eighty years ago, but he’s all we’ve got so we’re hanging on. He was actually pretty cool though so I highly recommend reading his biography and/or visiting our museum to learn more!) And speaking of the famous writer, we also have the Ernie Pyle/Dana Fireman’s Festival every August, and lemme tell ya what, that’s the biggest social event of the year. I mean, I’m still hanging on to the fact that I was Miss Ernie Pyle Festival 2011….don’t believe me? See below.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things I miss about living in a bigger city (like being less than an hour and a half away from the nearest Target), but you just can’t beat a small town. When someone is sick, the town rallies around them. When you’re walking down the road back to the pickup after moving a piece of equipment, someone stops to give you a ride. When everyone’s favorite farmer passes away, the whole town shows up at the funeral home.

As someone who has always hated stepping outside of her comfort zone, knowing that I had not only my friends’ and family’s support but that I had the whole town rooting for me gave me that little extra push I needed. Moving away for college, going overseas for a semester, taking a job in another state...I knew that even if I didn’t see them at the restaurant uptown every day at noon, they were still behind me. And I know that no matter where I end up, these small town folks will still be supportive just as they know that I’m there for them (or at least I hope they do!).

I know that my little hometown isn’t perfect; I’m not trying to paint it as a fairytale village. Even since I was a kid, plenty of businesses and people have left and plenty of trouble and drugs have moved in. The auction house crumbled, the grocery store and florist shop burnt, and the bank and tavern both closed. However, as much as all of those things could be considered pretty significant setbacks, they don’t take away from why I love this town. I truly believe it’s the people that make this town worthwhile not the things. Really, really good people who care about their neighbors.

So wherever you may be, whether it be a village or the big city, I hope you find your “small town” group of people because I’m a firm believer that big dreams grow best in small towns.

355 comments

  • TOP QUALITY BANK NOTES AVAILABLE WhatsApp(+447401473736)GET VALID DOCUMENTS TO

    TOP QUALITY MONEY FOR SALE. DOLLAR, POUNDS, EUROS AND OTHER CURRENCIES
    AVAILABLE WE HAVE PARTNERS IN EVERY CONTINENT SO IF IN CASE YOU ARE LOOKING
    FOR A FACE TO FACE DEAL THEN JUST CONTACT AND STATE YOUR LOCATION AND YOU
    SHALL HAVE YOUR BILLS. WE ALSO ISSUE DOCUMENTS LIKE (PASSPORTS, DRIVER LICENSE,
    ID CARDS, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE AND ALL KIND OF DOCUMENTS YOU MIGHT NEED TODAY

    With over a billion of our products circulating around the world. We offer only
    original high-quality currency NOTES. We ship worldwide. We also print
    and sell Grade A banknotes of over 52 currencies in the world. Here is your chance
    to be a millionaire. Our money is perfectly reproduced, Indistinguishable to the eye
    and to the touch. We are sending in various sizes, packed and hidden. All our notes
    carries all the holograms and water marks and passes the light detector test. We
    will deliver the money directly to your home without the interference of customs .
    we have a Huge quantity ready in stock.

    We use latest technology to produce our notes so that it looks 100% identical to
    the real note. This thus implies all security features present in the real notes
    are present in the note we make. Our team is made up of Quality IT technicians from
    North Korea, USA, Russia, India and China. We offer high quality NOTES for all currencies.

    TO FIND OUT IF YOU CAN BUY FROM ME OR NOT ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CONTACT ME FIRST, I CAN GUARANTEE
    YOU THAT YOU WILL BE SHOCKED WITH MY SERVICE.

    FACE TO FACE DEALS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL SO YOU CAN BUY FACE TO FACE AND ALSO
    GET TO TEST SAMPLES FIRST BEFORE YOU PLACE AN ORDER. CONTACT ME WITH CONFIDENT AND FIND OUT THE MAGIC
    IN COUNTERFEIT AND DOCUMENTS WORLD

    !!! CONTACT FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

    Email-: qualitybills-documents@hotmail.com
    Telegram: @Ranko3222
    WhatsApp: +447401473736

    https://toprapidsolution.blogspot.com/

    Feel free to ask questions before placing your order, I AM HERE TO HELP 100%

    SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE

    Mike Reno
  • ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS ARE THE MOST RELIABLE CRYPTO RECOVERY TEAM

    With expertise in crypto recovery, Alpha Recovery Experts provides legitimate services to assist clients in recovering misplaced or stolen digital valuables. With a global team of investigators and advanced recovery techniques, they provide reliable solutions for individuals facing crypto theft. Their expertise in tracing and restoring funds, combined with a commitment to security and professionalism, guarantees clients can trust Alpha Recovery Experts team for efficient recovery and peace of mind in navigating crypto-related issues.

    Contact info;
    Email: ( Alpharecoveryexpert@consultant. com )
    WhatsAp: ( +44 745-742-4681 )
    Web: Alpharecoveryexperts.com

    mary jones
  • Trusted Crypto Recovery Experts / Trace & Recover Your Stolen Cryptocurrency with Alpha Recovery Experts

    As the demand for innovative recovery solutions and trustworthy services rises, ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS has played an important role in improving client financial security through blockchain research and crypto recovery services. To achieve a favorable outcome in the recovery of lost assets, Alpha Recovery Experts begins the cryptocurrency scam recovery process by reviewing the scheme’s storyline and timeframe. Then, they examine the available data and track your virtual assets.
    Contact Alpha Recovery Experts to retrieve your misplaced Bitcoin.

    Cryptocurrency Scam Recovery // Can I recover my stolen cryptocurrency? // Crypto Investment Gone Wrong. How To Hire A Hacker To Get Back Stolen Crypto Coins // Hire A Hacker To Recover Lost Or Stolen Bitcoin/Nft // Hire a legitimate recovery expert // Cryptocurrency recovery experts for hire

    Contact information of Alpha Recovery Experts.
    Email: (alpharecoveryexpert@consultant.com)
    WhatsApp ;+447457424681

    Edgar Mackely
  • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Tracing and Recovery services – Visit Alpha Recovery Experts

    Alpha Recovery Experts are a trusted and reliable solution for individuals seeking to recover lost or inaccessible cryptocurrency assets. With a team of expert cryptographers and cybersecurity specialists, the recovery expert utilizes cutting-edge technology to navigate the complexities of blockchain forensics and retrieve lost or stolen digital assets. ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS proprietary recovery protocols are designed to ensure the utmost security and confidentiality, providing his clients with peace of mind throughout the recovery process. Whether you’ve lost access to your wallet, forgotten your private keys, or fallen victim to a phishing scam, ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS are dedicated to helping you regain control of your cryptocurrency portfolio. The customer-centric approach, combined with their unparalleled technical expertise, has earned the team a reputation as a go-to solution for cryptocurrency recovery. Don’t let lost or inaccessible assets hold you back – contact Alpha Recovery Experts today to take the first step towards recovery.

    For More inquiries, contact them at,
    Email; Alpharecoveryexpert@consultant.com
    Homepage; Alpharecoveryexperts.com

    Maxwell Harrison
  • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Tracing and Recovery services – Visit Alpha Recovery Experts

    Alpha Recovery Experts are a trusted and reliable solution for individuals seeking to recover lost or inaccessible cryptocurrency assets. With a team of expert cryptographers and cybersecurity specialists, the recovery expert utilizes cutting-edge technology to navigate the complexities of blockchain forensics and retrieve lost or stolen digital assets. ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS proprietary recovery protocols are designed to ensure the utmost security and confidentiality, providing his clients with peace of mind throughout the recovery process. Whether you’ve lost access to your wallet, forgotten your private keys, or fallen victim to a phishing scam, ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS are dedicated to helping you regain control of your cryptocurrency portfolio. The customer-centric approach, combined with their unparalleled technical expertise, has earned the team a reputation as a go-to solution for cryptocurrency recovery. Don’t let lost or inaccessible assets hold you back – contact Alpha Recovery Experts today to take the first step towards recovery.

    For More inquiries, contact them at,
    Email; Alpharecoveryexpert@consultant.com
    Homepage; Alpharecoveryexperts.com

    Maxwell Harrison

Leave a comment