The+Agricultural+Core+2015

The Agricultural Core refers to an area in the northern Midwest of the United States that is known for their regions of farms and rich soils. Midwest implies that the west begins at the Appalachians and gradually merging into the far west. Many mistake the areas of Kansas Nebraska and the Dakotas as the Midwest but it incorporates all of Illinois, ,Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri. ( the image below represents a better picture of the agricultural area)

[[image:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Birthplace_of_the_US_Republican_Party_2.jpg width="313" height="223"]]
==Another unique place to visit is the home where president Abraham Lincoln was born in and the reconstructed house that people can tour with a guide. The home is located in Hodgenville, Kentucky. From here Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois where he began his political career. The last stop on the Lincoln trip is in Springfield, Illinois where the Lincoln tomb is. == ====

Homestead National Monument of America
== Daniel Freeman is credited with being the first American to get his 160 acres under the Homestead Act of 1862. Learn about the challenges of homesteading and its impact on Native Americans at this Beatrice, Nebraska, monument's cabin, museum and old schoolhouse. Walk a trail through 1 acre of prairie land. The path is exactly the width of the plows originally used to break up the land, giving a sense of how difficult it must have been for homesteaders to break the acres. Freeman's grave, and that of his wife, is also on the site. ==

 Jewel Cave National Monument
Walking inside the world's second-largest cave—160 miles mapped so far—is like walking into a geode: rough on the outside, lined with white crystals and full of sparkly surprises. Nailhead calcite gives the Custer, South Dakota, cave its nubby walls that can look like coral; dogtooth spar provides the pockets of pretty crystals. Feel the cut-glass texture on a "sacrificial [|rock] " at the beginning of one of four tours (discovery, scenic, historic lantern and wild caving). Above ground, three trails illustrate how surface and subsurface interact

 Scotts Bluff National Monument
The geologic formation Scotts Bluff was an important landmark for Native Americans and pioneers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. Rising more than 800 feet above the North Platte River in Nebraska, Scotts Bluff is just one formation at the site preserving geological history. That history comes alive on hikes, ranger talks and performances

[[image:http://images.midwestliving.mdpcdn.com/sites/midwestliving.com/files/styles/slide/public/scottsbluff_0.jpg?itok=OyNYmgE2 width="235" height="1.5; height: 261"]]
==most of the region's residents are white, descendants of waves of foreign born migrants, who settled into the region until the late 19th century.most of those migrants can from northwestern Europe- Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the British isles.==

[[image:http://pinecity.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/poplossmidwest.jpg?w=455&h=448]]
==Everywhere, the Midwest is losing population. It is especially losing young people, and the native population ages. It is losing workers and taxpayers and shoppers. The future of the Midwest literally depends on drawing in as many immigrants as possible -- both PhDs from India and workers from Mexico.==

==The Midwest region of the United States has many cultural influences in its cooking. Over the decades, people including **Germans, British, Italian, Hungarians, and Scandinavians** immigrated to the Midwestern United States and made it their home bringing with them original dishes from their homelands. when the Germans began arriving in the 1700's they brought beer == ==sauerkraut, and sausages. Along with their tradition of placing dishes on the table all at one time. ==

[[image:https://photos.tripsite.com/assets/files/1306/germandinner-flgavrielsaldana.jpeg width="258" height="173"]]
==The English brought with them meat pies also known as Pasties, bread pudding, and roasts with potatoes. == ====

==The Italians brought pastas and native cheeses, and the Hungarians brought goulash. //Lefse //(potato bread) and meatballs were introduced by the Scandinavians. ==

[[image:http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d21/unsecured/media/1033249144001/1033249144001_1998665195001_900944612-177-1354237270546.jpg?pubId=1033249144001 width="230" height="131"]]
==**Today many Americans consider foods of the Midwest to be simple and hearty.** Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and eggs, are common ingredients in Midwest cooking. ==

Main dishes may include roasts, stews, and dishes made from trout and whitefish (as seen above).
==Rice is used in many side dishes and desserts. Wheat bread and cornbread typically accompany meals. **Seasoning with spices is generally mild, and fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, and sage may be used to flavor a dish.** ==

Corn, apples, wheat, and potatoes are some examples of staple crops.
==== ==<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Beef, pork, and poultry are produced in many Midwestern states, and trout, bass, and walleye are just a few examples of fish found in Minnesota's 10,000 lakes. == ==<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> == ==<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">M <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">any Midwestern foods are based on the season. In summer months picnic foods such as deviled eggs, potato and pasta salads, and fresh fruits are enjoyed. ==

==<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Winters once forced cooks to find methods such as smoking, pickling, and canning, to preserve food. Meatloaf (made with ground beef and breadcrumbs), chicken and noodles, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">and chili (a thick beef and bean stew) are hearty foods to keep people warm and full during the harsh winter weather. == =HOLIDAYS= ==<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> Christian religions dominate in the Midwest, with Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter being the main holidays. These holidays are celebrated in generally the same way as the rest of the United States; it is a time for families to get together and visit and eat. You can find people caroling during the month of December in places like Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to Midwest living people really get into the festivities.==

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<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;"> Roasted ham or turkey is a common main course during the holidays. A variety of vegetables may be served, such as potatoes, carrots, green beans, or corn and many casseroles.

=<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: top;"> music and dances = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gEgji7f3Hs

====<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Deep Polka brings out the vitality and variety of the Polka and related European-derived dance music played by bands throughout the upper Midwest today. Although little known outside this region, these important and enduring music traditions bring thousands of people together to dance almost every weekend. ====

=Midwestern dialect.= ==**Upper Midwestern:** Home of the Midwestern twang, influenced by a combination of North-easterners and Southerners who migrated up the Mississippi River, as well as the Scandinavian immigrants who settled the area. A sub dialect in and around Minnesota reflects more of that Norwegian influence. Think [|“Drop Dead Gorgeous.”] == https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdxbyea7mQg