5 things about Michiganders

For the past Five weeks this red beard has been growing all over the state of Michigan.  (If that sounds weird, just read the blog discription...)  

I have been traveling all over this state, and from my travels I have deduced 5 things that I have found to be rather interesting and should be shared.  Without further ado, 5 things about Michiganders (the name at which the Michigan dwellers prefer to be called.)   

#1 Michigan says, Talk to the hand!

The United States of American divided the landmass into states, with different geographical boundaries based on several things.  The use of rivers, mountain ranges, longitudinal and latitudinal lines, all make each shape look different. (latitude are the horizontal ones, like look at the rungs of a ladder.)  Throughout the years, Indian treaties, land buys, and a host of other things, have changed the ways the states are arranged.  Consequently you get some bizarro looking states, and it's funny to see how different people describe their geographical boundaries of the state. Some people use food, or animals to describe their state. Some states have "pan handles."  Louisiana and Arkansas together look like a boot. Some states are square.  Canada is America's hat.  You get the drift.  But in MICHIGAN, well they have a leg up on the state describing competition! Or should I say a hand up...

Those are not my hands, my hands are prettier.

That's right!  Michigan sorta looks like a hand.  Speaking with college students, they can describe where they are from with relative ease! For instance, my team spent a little break in the pinky.  I spoke with a guy who said, "I'm right in the middle of the Thumb."  He was from the town with the coolest name ever, BAD AXE!  What a name! hard core. 

#2 you have to go UP to get the U.P.

Michigan is unique, because a large portion of its state is not even connected to it!  Where is it? Attached to Wisconsin.  Makes sense right? Not at all.  Let me explain...

When Michigan was just a territory and wanting statehood, they said, "Hey, lets include the town of Toledo and all the land around it in the Ohio territory.  Yeah, that will be nice to have."      

To which the people of Ohio snapped their fingers in a Z and said, "Oh No. You. Don't!"  So each side was pissed at each other for claiming each others stuff, much like kids fighting over toys, although this time it was over lots of land and resources. So both states formed up militia's and had them patrol and yell at people.  Every now and then they would see the other "troops" and shoot in the air at each other.  Yeah, not even at each other, just kinda in their direction, but in the air.  

This event is called the Toledo War, which is hilarious, because no one died or even got hurt, except one guy who was stabbed with a pen, I kid you not!   

So Andrew Jackson, the president (and elected crazy haired guy, just check a $20 if you don't remember him.) at the time, said for everyone to stop stabbing each other with pens. He told Michigan that they could have all of the land above the Wisconsin territory if they would stop being silly and give Ohio's land back.  They were so stubborn and prideful that they said "NO!" Then Jackson said, "so uh... were like handing out thousands of dollars to STATES for armies and stuff, and I know you guys are, like, broke, so if you accept this and stop being sasquatches, we will give you money too." To which Michigan reluctantly accepted. 

Little did the folks of Michigan know that the U.P. was full of copper and iron ore, which was later discovered in the 1840's and even brought in more cash than all of the gold from the gold rush in California.  About that time tones of Fins (not fish, but people from Finland) moved in there and most of the U.P. can trace their ancestry to, you know, finish stuff. 

The U.P. and the bottom hand are connected by Mackinac Bridge and in between the straits of Mackinac there is Mackinac Island. Its a super cool place where cars aren't allowed, so everyone rides horses or bikes, or walks... or anything that isn't a motor vehicle. 

#3 Its fruity 

"You have logs?"

Along with ore and Timber ( ^ ), Michigan has lots of other natural resources to offer. Take a Gander at that picture: 

Fruit Belt

 That's what Fruitologists (or whatever you call fruit scientists, farmers?) coin the fruit belt.  The highlighted red there is some of the best places in America to grow fruit like apples, grapes, and cherries.  Well the as you can see it lies right in Michigan's UP and LP (lower peninsula).  In previous years (most years are) most of our nations apples and cherries come from this neck of the nation.  However, in recent years lots of land has been not profitable for cherries, so most cherry farmers planned the next best thing:  Grapes, for your wine! 

Several wineries in the, uh, pinky nail of Michigan have sprung up in the last 10 years of so.  Some of which use the most state of the art processes in the world. 

#4 Cider and Donuts

Um, Um, and apple

Because of lots of orchards and apples, naturally lots of cider mills are around, some for hundreds of years.  And man, Cider and Donuts is a Michigan thing.  I'm not kidding.  Its everywhere. Everyone uses it as a selling point for their party or get together.  Tons of group meetings and places we have been this semester has had them.  I even heard a Campus minister say, "Come to Fall retreat because we will have cider and donuts."  

I thought it quite strange at first, but then I ate them... I felt like Homer Simpson!  

Having a party? Want Michiganders to show up?  Have Cider and Donuts.  2 things you need to know, though: 1. Were not talking about apple juice!?  That stuff is concentarted (spelled that way for a reason) and gross.  Were talkin fresh squeezed juices from thousands of honey crisp apples! 2. NO glaze here. These are a special cake donut make with cinnamon and spices and cider IN the badder.  Also, they are HOT donuts, so pretty much 200% awesome.   

#5 The 2 biggest schools HATE each other!

Burp contest.

As a former mascot and a college sports fan, I love learning about mascots and school traditions.  Learning about a schools rival in another state is common place, but an internal rivalry is not that popular...  Sure Oklahoma and OSU are big, and A&M hates Texas, but the have bigger rivals across state boarders.  

The Michigan State Spartans and the University of Michigan Wolverines have been fighin it out for decades.  Everyone state wide is aligned with one or the other and its a huge huge deal.  

That's it sports fans.  Thing you should know about this state.  Hope you enjoyed it.  I Hope you visit sometime.  Its beautiful.  

I thought I would leave you with some pictures that I took at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park in Northwest Michigan.  

Until we meet again...