I meant to say NOT very big. Tonight after work, when I turn up the drive it sure felt GOOD. I grad high school in 1976 near Decorah Iowa. Dad farmed and worked in town and I started at a filling station, remember those? Anyway the state of Iowa decided they needed most of dad's farm for a state recreation area and "bought" us out. Still about 40 acres left. The company Dad worked for decided to close the plant he was at in 1978 and moved him up to Minnesota where we live now. I got a job there too and lived with the folks, Salted the money away and really enjoyed the interest rates of the early 1980's.
Fast forward Farm Credit was almost giving farms away (didn't seem like at the time). I found this 225 acres I liked, Dad gave his approval. Dad bought 80 acres with some of the money form the Iowa farm and I bought the rest.
We didn't know it at the time and growled alot but the state of Iowa did us a HUGE favor. Bought out our farm at nearly the high of the market and we bought back in at nearly the low. Best move I ever made. Today I got 3 girls 2 in college, one in high school and so far none of them have had to borrow to go to college. Hope it keeps up
Thanks to everybody here.