Photo byJuliane LiebermannonUnsplash

Once upon a time, in the heartland of the United States, there sat a state called Iowa - or as locals preferred to call it, "IA". It was a magical land of cornfields that stretched as far as the eye could see, rolling hills that excited curious minds, and a sky so blue it could make a robin jealous. In IA, there lived a jolly bunch of kids who loved to go hiking. These weren't your ordinary kids, no sirree bob! These were the 'Hiking Hawks of Iowa' or 'HHI' for short. Each member of HHI was braver than a lion, more resilient than a rhinoceros, and as nimble as a mountain goat. And oh! They had one imaginary friend, a magical Corn Goblin named Kernel Cobblepot. Kernel Cobblepot was a mischievous, funny character made entirely of corn kernels. He had the shiniest golden hair, which was actually silky threads of corn silk, and wore a top hat made of corn husks. His job was to protect the Hiking Hawks on their hiking adventures. And trust me, he took his job very seriously. During their expeditions, the HHI kids and Kernel Cobblepot would explore the mysterious Loess Hills, trace the meandering rivers, and race amongst the tall prairie grasses. They would laugh, play, and sometimes even tumble. But in every hike, Kernel Cobblepot would always ensure each hawk returned home safely, even if he had to sacrifice a kernel or two in the process. The kids and Kernel Cobblepot together made IA an adventurous and lively place. Their laughter echoed through the lands, making even the grumpy old owls hoot in joy. So, if you ever happen to visit IA, don't forget to give a shout out to the Hiking Hawks and their corn-tastic buddy, Kernel Cobblepot.