He's from our neighborhood, he was born in Ames, grew up in Ames, went to Iowa State, and he's a wonderful poet. After working a long time in insurance, he's finally being honored and appreciated as a poet.

I grew up on a farm and went to Iowa State. I planned to go into Extension, but my adviser said we bought seeds from Ball and I should try interviewing with them. That was 24 years ago and I have been doing the trials ever since.

We wanted (the event) to be in his neighborhood, and our neighborhood now.

You like people to pay attention to the past but look around at any time and know it's meaningful.

It's like a mini Iowa-Iowa State.

Everybody that is left is in a state of limbo and doesn't know if their neighborhood is going to be rebuilt or what is going to happen to the city.