Midwest (U.S.)

I have big, wide-open arms and a sky that goes on forever. In the summer, my fields look like a giant green and yellow patchwork quilt, and my breezes smell like sweet corn and fresh dirt. In the winter, I love to wear a sparkling white blanket of snow. I have four fun seasons, so I'm always changing my clothes! People call me America's Heartland because I'm right in the middle of everything. I am a big, friendly place. I am the Midwest.

A long, long time ago, even before the year 1800, my very first friends lived here. They were Native American people, like the Sioux and the Ojibwe. They knew all my secrets. They knew the best places to find yummy berries and how to follow the paths my rivers made. I loved hearing their songs and stories. Later on, new neighbors came to see me. They were brave pioneers who traveled in bumpy covered wagons with their families. It was a long, bouncy ride! They were looking for a place to build new homes and plant farms. My soil was so rich and dark, it was perfect for growing yummy food for their children. My giant rivers, like the mighty Mississippi, helped everyone travel, like a superhighway made of water! I was happy to welcome them.

Today, I am home to big, busy cities with tall skyscrapers that tickle the clouds. I am also home to small, friendly towns where neighbors wave hello and share cookies. I still love to grow things! My farms grow so much corn, wheat, and soybeans. People sometimes call me the nation's 'breadbasket' because I help make the bread that feeds people all over the world. My heart is as big as my sky, and I have plenty of room for you to run, play, and dream big dreams. I love being the welcoming heart of the country, and I will always be here with open arms.