Americans emerged victorious from World War II with something promoters called “air-mindedness”: an optimism that aviation would improve work, politics, and social life. Midwestern farmers were at the heart of this vision because their ability to feed those recovering from war and their geographic centrality promised to make the Midwest an “aviation empire” with connections between its farms and the world. To help build this empire, the Flying Farmers organization promoted the usefulness of aviation among farmers and eventually opened chapters across the country and overseas. Although aviation never became as widespread as imagined, the Flying Farmers and other promoters of agricultural flight did help establish midwestern agriculture's central role in the Cold War.
The Iowa History 101 webinars share Iowa stories and the history of the state through a cultural history lens on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Registration is required for each event and to receive a link to the recorded program.