HBO

When I was still living on the farm we were involved in the ethanol industry as it promoted the use of our crop of corn to produce it. During this same time I had a son-in-law return from Iraq after spending 15 months fighting for our freedom.

Now Global warming was becoming a big issue and HBO decided to do a documentary on ethanol how if it did or didn't have any effect on preventing global warming and what if any effect it had on the war in Iraq. It must not have had an effect on the war because its still going strong.

After a group of phone calls to verify that it was actually HBO and not some prank we set up the time to have the team come to our farm and film our corn and the harvesting process. Some of these people had never been to SD and weren't sure if they ever wanted to come back but we put on the good old country charm with food and friendship and before we knew it we were all friends. We filmed and interviewed for the better part of two days. It was a learning experience to see just how much it takes to make a film. When we got all done I told the crew I would take them out to a great restaurant for a meal they wouldn't forget. There's nothing better than SD steaks done right. The crew was about 5 people and with my family, we thought about 12 people, when we got there they decided to invited some of the ethanol people and I think we had about 30 people. It didn't matter, I said I was going to treat them to a good steak and I did, the the bill was about $600.00 if I remember right but what the heck its HBO. After the meal the director came up to me and did pay half, phew!!!.

After much waiting over the winter and into spring we did get the DVD and with much excitement we watched the Documentary. I guess we figured it would probably be this way and it was our claim to fame was about only 1 second. Didn't matter we had a great time, showed some good SD hospitaliy, and made some friends along the way. This is one memory I probably won't forget.