These following 10 points are some of my favorite things about growing up in a town of about 2,500 people:
1. You graduated with less than 300 people.
If you think that a graduating class of 300 people was small then you need to get real. Try 47 and knowing everyone's middle name, their parent's names, their grandparent's names, where their house is and how to get there several different ways.
2. You've never had a stoplight in town.
The only stoplight in the town of Spring Valley, Minnesota was temporary due to Minnesota construction season: summer.
3. You wave to every single person you drive by.
Even if you don't know them, you're still practically obligated to wave.
4. In high school, all of the teachers had your older siblings and possibly your parents in class before you and would ask if you were related.
"Is Kenny Colton your older brother? Hmm, yes I thought so. You definitely resemble one another, and the last name sounded familiar."
5. You hope that any new kid you get is more normal than the last one.
Getting a new student in a small high school was like getting a shiny new toy, and you hoped it was a good one.
6. When you go to the grocery store, plan on being there for 30 minutes more than expected.
Everyone knows everyone in your town, so plan on your mom or dad talking to someone they know for about half an hour and having to wait for them because they're your ride and you have no other choice.
7. Your town has a specific celebration that is celebrated the same weekend every year in the summer.
Ag Days is always celebrated the third weekend in August. You also go to other town's celebrations too if you're feeling a little adventurous. Oh, and Ag Days used to be called Wilder Days, just for a fun fact.
8. You know almost every type of tractor, even if you didn't grow up on a farm.
You surely know that when the fall and spring come around, the roads are going to be extra busy with tractors of all types because farmers are heading out to the fields. You can definitely tell all of them apart just by pulling up behind them on the highway.
9. FFA is life.
Future Farmers of America is taken extremely seriously, so don't hate on the farm kids or FFA.
10. Sweet corn is sold in pick-up trucks by at least one street corner in your town, and if not, go to the next town over and they'll have one.
Fresh sweet corn is always something great to look forward to in the summers, and if you haven't had it, then I feel really sorry for you.
Going to college has exposed me to many different types of people, and it has made me realize that I was so very lucky to grow up in small town USA, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Never forget your roots or where you came from because it helped a lot to develop you into the person you are today. Thank you, Spring Valley.
