Corn, Caucuses, and Catastrophes

Iowa: land of corn, caucuses, and catastrophes. For most Americans, that’s the beginning and end of the story. But the Hawkeye State has a history that’s far stranger, funnier, and more important than anyone gives it credit for.

In Corn, Caucuses, and Catastrophes, Jordan Blake Carter takes listeners on a rollicking ride through Iowa’s past and present. From the Honey War fought over beehives to penny auctions that defied the banks, from floods that drowned cities to butter cows that drew crowds, Iowa has always been equal parts resilient and ridiculous. This is the state that feeds the nation, humiliates presidential candidates at the State Fair, and rebuilds after every disaster with casseroles in hand.

With sharp humor and a healthy dose of side-eye, Carter proves that Iowa is not just a rectangle in the middle of nowhere. It is America in miniature — messy, stubborn, and unforgettable.