We want the 'Farmer Wave' and acreage!

[SharpHawkeye]

Gentrification. I know exactly what you mean. I have a favorite uncle who lives in Spring Hill, a tiny little village sort of in-between Norwalk and Indianola (If you must ask, I have relatives everywhere...) and I've noticed a lot of that going on. People are building both massive mansions (I hesitate to use McMansions because these look custom-made) and less massive McMansions all along the former farmland around there. It's good, reasonably cheap land with an easy commute to Des Moines...perfect for people who want to get away while still being close to the city.

When he moved there about five years ago, he fixed up a modest home in Spring Hill for himself, as have some other people. Not a mansion by any means, but still part of the gentrification of the area.

[Lovethem]

I see now. Well, I grew up in (sssssssh, don't telll anyone) rural southern California back in the day when being a native there was something to be proud of (couldn't pay me to live there now) and we were surrounded by crop fields and grazing animals that have since been replaced with congestion; great memories of going to the county fair with friends to show their goats. It was so sad to watch that slip away over the years *sigh* I recall many an earthquake and don't think we'll takek on any man-made ones lol other than the see the kids scramble once or twice just for fun ;-) JK
We will be one of those who pick up some land to hobby farm and possibly build, but let me assure you, we will not be building a mansion, oh no, we might be building a comfortable country-inn-style or farmhouse with wrap around porch (Mama here wants the porch swing tee hee) but nothing grandeur (would rather have that in land size for farming). So, we're also trying to buy near larger sizes of farm land hoping that they won't end up developments too soon down the road.
Iaborn, where are the county fairgrounds in Winterset? I can't find them on mapquest global.

[iaborn42]

Lovethem... try this...2007 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival Area Map

I also forgot about the Historical grounds, lots of Madison County History.

[Lovethem]

Iaborn,
Thanks. You're going to laugh, but I got the "Bridges Of Madison County" book thinking it was about the actual bridges (never saw the movie so what did I know) and that I could learn some Winterset bridge history. Whoa, that book was NOT about bridges LOL.

[iaborn42]

In a sense it could be a little bit about the bridges.... LOL