As I just spent about 3 weeks driving around some western states, I have gained great appreciation for those who settled the desert areas of the west. They came in wagons and on foot and cleared the sage brush and rocks by hand. Plowed with horses or men pulling their primitive but effective equipment. Driving in the deserts, it's amazing to see scrub and cacti on one side of the road and thriving fields of cotton, potatoes, alfalfa and corn on the other. 

America was built by 'blue collar workers' and 'rednecks'. Those of us who live now, or who have not had to struggle so physically to make our lives happen really owe our existence, lifestyles and whole nation to those who broke their backs surviving and making the desert bloom.

They, the builders of the nation,
Blazing trails along the way;
Stepping-stones for generations
Were their deeds of ev’ry day.
Building new and firm foundations,
Pushing on the wild frontier,
Forging onward, ever onward,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!

Ida R. Alldredge, 1892-1943. (c) 1948 IRI

Penny L Soutar, Copyright 2105 (27 July)

Colorado River, Moab, Utah