Iowa Word Search

AMES – Home to Iowa State University and a vibrant college town in central Iowa, known for its research facilities, educational excellence, and thriving cultural community scene.

BEEF – Iowa ranks among top beef cattle producing states in America, with extensive feedlots and ranches contributing significantly to the state’s agricultural economy and identity.

BRIDGES – References the famous covered bridges of Madison County, Iowa, immortalized in Robert James Waller’s bestselling novel and subsequent film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

CAUCUS – The Iowa Caucuses are the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating contests, giving Iowa tremendous political influence and national attention every four years during election season.

CEDAR – Refers to Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city, or the Cedar River flowing through eastern Iowa, both vital to the state’s geography and economy.

CORN – Iowa is America’s leading corn producer, with golden fields dominating the landscape. This crop fuels food production, livestock feed, and ethanol fuel manufacturing statewide.

CYCLONES – The athletic teams representing Iowa State University in Ames, competing in the Big 12 Conference with passionate fans supporting football, basketball, and other sports.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s capital and largest city, serving as the state’s political, economic, and cultural center with insurance industry headquarters, museums, and growing urban development.

DUBUQUE – Historic Mississippi River city featuring distinctive bluffs, Victorian architecture, riverboat heritage, and serving as Iowa’s oldest city established by European settlers in 1833.

FARMLAND – Iowa’s defining landscape feature, with over eighty-five percent of land dedicated to agriculture, producing crops and livestock that feed America and the world.

FIELD – Represents Iowa’s vast agricultural fields stretching across rolling terrain, where corn, soybeans, and other crops grow throughout the growing season in fertile soil.

GRANT WOOD – Renowned Iowa artist who painted “American Gothic,” the iconic image featuring a farmer and woman before a house, symbolizing Midwestern American rural values.

HAWKEYES – University of Iowa’s athletic teams based in Iowa City, competing in the Big Ten Conference with dedicated fans supporting wrestling, football, and basketball programs.

HOG – Iowa leads the nation in hog production, raising millions of pigs annually. Pork production represents a cornerstone of Iowa’s agricultural economy and rural heritage.

HOOVER – Herbert Hoover, America’s thirty-first president, was born in West Branch, Iowa. His birthplace cottage and presidential library remain popular historical tourist destinations today.

IOWA CITY – Home to the University of Iowa and designated UNESCO City of Literature, formerly Iowa’s capital, known for its writers’ workshop and vibrant arts scene.

JOHN WAYNE – Legendary Hollywood actor born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa. His birthplace museum celebrates his iconic Western film career and American cultural impact.

MADISON – Madison County in south-central Iowa, famous for its historic covered bridges featured in literature and film, attracting tourists seeking rural charm and photography.

MIDWEST – Iowa epitomizes America’s Midwest region, characterized by agricultural traditions, friendly communities, conservative values, and central geographic location within the continental United States.

PORK – Iowa’s top livestock product, with the state producing approximately one-third of America’s pork supply from millions of hogs raised on farms statewide annually.

PRAIRIE – Native tallgrass prairie once covered Iowa before agricultural development. Small preserved remnants showcase wildflowers, grasses, and ecosystems supporting diverse wildlife and pollinators.

RIVER – The Mississippi River forms Iowa’s eastern border while the Missouri River defines its western boundary, both crucial for transportation, commerce, and natural ecosystems.

SIOUX CITY – Iowa’s fourth-largest city located where the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers meet, serving as a regional agricultural processing and transportation hub in northwestern Iowa.

SOYBEANS – Iowa’s second-most important crop after corn, used for oil, livestock feed, and food products. Iowa consistently ranks among America’s top soybean-producing states.