Last week the website Thrillist ranked each state in America according to their contributions to the United States. Out of all the states, Michigan landed the number one spot in the “Definitive and Final Rankings of all 50 States.” Now some will completely disagree with this for whatever reason, but as a native of Michigan, I believe the state has a lot to offer.

We are surrounded by the Great Lakes, forming the largest group of freshwater on Earth. I grew up off the coast of Lake Huron, in a small community located in the thumb. Now if you weren’t already from Michigan or didn’t know where “the thumb” was, this is the part where I would hold up my hand and point to the location, since the lower half of the state is shaped like a mitten. I’m pretty sure Michigan is the only state where you can use your hand as a map.

The top half of the state, known as the Upper Peninsula, whose locals are referred to as Yoopers, feels like another state altogether once you cross the Mackinaw Bridge, which links the two peninsulas. The U.P. offers beautiful scenery. Take for example Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior, or Tequanimum Falls, which is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi.

Michigan has four seasons, but the weather is likely to change daily. I’m not saying it’s going to snow tomorrow, but one can never be too sure living in Michigan. Living in a state that has all four seasons gives opportunity for many outdoor activities that change with the season: from hunting and fishing, to sledding and snowmobiling, and finally, in the summer months, boating and beach days. With each season comes a new Michigan festival one can attend.

The change of the seasons also helps with the vast amount of agriculture Michigan has. Overall, Michigan’s agriculture industry employs 923,000 people and contributes $101 billion to the state’s economy; 98 percent of Michigan farms are family owned, reports the Michigan.org website.

Justin Norris, a resident of Warren and a landscape foreman plants a lot of flowers during the spring and summer months. “Impatiens are an annual flower that are often used in landscaping,” said Norris. “Michigan is the leading state of production of these flowers, along with geraniums and petunias.”

Furthermore, let us not forget Detroit, the birthplace of the automotive industry, which is still alive and well. The Detroit Chamber website reported that currently Detroit produces more cars and trucks than any other state in the country.

Although a lot of negativity surrounds the area, there is no other city like Detroit. In recent years there have been numerous developments and expansions of the downtown and Midtown areas, and every year more and more local businesses have chosen Detroit to set up shop, which has increased population into the city.

Entrepreneur Sean Elkhatib, who currently resides in Saginaw but grew up in Dearborn, said the cultural diversity of the state, especially in southeast Michigan, provides a variety of different market opportunities. “There is a great atmosphere for all kinds of entrepreneurial ventures, whether it is in the auto or health care industry, technology, services, retail, etc.,” said Elkhatib.

I’m proud to say that Michigan also has the most die-hard fans; we love our sports teams: the Detroit Lions, Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers. Even when we lose, we don’t stop showing love.

Calumet resident Cynthia Kanyak said that she has traveled around the U.S. and some of Europe, but she always found her roots embedded in Michigan. “Our state has beautiful scenic lakes and shores, rich soil for farming, copper mines in the U.P. and lighthouses throughout the entire state. Not to mention our auto industry that has kept our state alive through generations,” said Kanyak. “Every corner is something new in Michigan, and I plan to explore all corners of her beauty, and I know I will never get tired of Michigan.”

There is something here for everyone and this Michigander couldn’t have agreed more with the choice the Thrillist made to rank Michigan as the top state.