Growing up in a small town has its perks. Your neighbors know more about you then your first and last name and your teachers have probably coached you in more sports then one. Family is usually in town or nearby, making cousins your classmates, who become more like your siblings. Growing up in Alta, Iowa there are a few staples in town that we sometime forget are so important to us. Others are simply habits that have formed over time. Here are some things you will know if you've ever lived in Alta.

Casey's is life.

Coffee, donuts and breakfast pizza were essential for surviving high school, and when lunch was disgusting there was no choice but to order a pizza. Casey's is Ye Old Faithful of Alta, especially when their pizza was ordered for a school function at least once a week. Head in around 7:30 a.m and you'll meet the morning coffee crew (which is mostly farmers) who are sure to send you off with a smile. Let's not forget all of those early morning speech (thanks Mr. Nesbitt) and musical practices that included TONS of donuts. You know what they say....if you feed them, they will come.

Harvest season is the busiest time of year.

If there is any sort of traffic in Alta during the year it's during harvest season. No doubt that the number of semis and tractors is at least double the amount of cars you will see--so it's best to avoid main street when possible. Harvest season means little sleep for farmers, kids skipping school to help out and lots of hard work.

You went to the BV County Fair.

4hers from the around the county come together to display a vast array of projects, baked goods, presentations and participate in their prospective animal shows. Let's not forget the coveted Pork Producers meal: pork burgers, sweet corn and ice cream, the ultimate Iowan meal. Those who come to look around enjoy the demo derby, Fair Queen/Little Miss Pageant and lots of carnival rides. The fair is a great way for all of the towns to come together in Alta to celebrate the importance of 4H and celebrate the impact agriculture has on our community and country.

Homecoming is the biggest week of the year.

Ah, homecoming--the Christmas of all small towns. Parades, alumni, lip-sync competition and the battle of the classes- no week is more anticipated and prepared for than Homecoming. Students spend half of the week in school hard at work studying, while the other half is spent doing community service, competing in class competitions, dressing up for spirit week and participating in the coveted lip-sync competition. The week is ended with a football game, where win or loose we celebrate afterward.

Attended Kiwanis Pancake Fundraisers.

Admit it--there is no other way you would rather spend your Sunday mornings after church than eating Kiwanis Pancakes at the community building. Along with the money going towards a great program, you'll probably end up eating with half of your church congregation or sitting next to your neighbors. Let's not forget all of the times Kiwanis came to the school to make pancakes for the whole student body--THE best day of the entire school year. I still dream about these pancakes and delicious sausages often.

You can't live without Highway 7.

You have inevitably lost track of the number of times you have driven to Storm Lake (or Aurelia) and back. There is no way we would survive without that road and when construction happens life becomes way more difficult. Want to go to a movie? Highway 7. Need to go to the doctor? Highway 7. Getting groceries can sometimes be a pain, but we are so good at driving this road that we could probably make it back safely with our eyes closed the entire way. In essence, Highway 7 is the road to life; without it we wouldn't have clothes, food or a place to spend our money (maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing?).