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LESSON 1: The "Corn for Energy" Campaign (Language Arts, Music, Dance, Art)*
LESSON 2: The State of Ethanol Use (Math)*
LESSON 3: It's up to People (History, Social Studies, Current Events)*
LESSON 4: Corn that Bounces & Stretches (Science)*

*All Lesson plans are adaptable for ALL ages!

HUGH BUYS A CAR

August 1941

Hugh had learned to drive a car when he was 8 years old. The field of wheat by his house had been harvested, leaving a wide-open space for driving practice. He had climbed into his dad's Model T, his feet barely reaching the three pedals, grabbed the steering wheel, revved the engine, and lurched forward. Oh yes, at age 8 he'd felt the power.

Now he was 16 and on his way to owning some of that power. He was buying a car; the most perfect car in the world. He was on his way to owning a 1930 Ford Model A!

He and his dad had seen it the day before. They'd driven to town to buy feed for the chickens, and had just happened to pass the yard where it was sitting. As soon as he'd seen it he knew it was the car for him! He knew he'd look good sitting behind that wheel.

It cost $350, but he could earn that money working for neighbors. If it took a couple years to pay off, it would still be worth it. His dad's old Model T had cost less than that when it was new, but cars were getting more expensive every day. He couldn't wait.

Today was the day he'd dreamed of for years.

First he needed to stop at the courthouse. His parents wanted everything to be legal, which meant he needed to start with a driver's license. The clerk gave him a form to sign, then typed up a card and asked for his signature. She didn't ask if he'd taken driving lessons. She didn't ask if he knew how to drive. She just wanted to make sure she had his name and address correct. He paid a quarter and left, his license secure in his pocket.

The next stop was for the Model A. Oh, it was handsome! Black, with four doors, all opening toward the middle. A gas tank that was filled right in front of the windshield. A spare tire stored near the right front tire. Running boards. Bench seats. A visor over the windshield. It was the most incredible car he'd ever seen.

It was flawless. It was matchless. It was his!

He climbed in, then drove home into the setting sun, whistling "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." He needed to show his friends. He couldn't wait to show his friends.

But first he had to do chores.

In the barn, his dad had the radio on. It was the Carter Family Country Music Show. Hugh was shoveling corn into the feed troughs when he heard the radio announcer say something about Henry Ford. He stopped, and turned it up. He didn't want to miss a word. It might be something about the Model A, his kind of car!

The newscaster read, "Today, August 14, 1941, at the 15th Annual Dearborn Michigan Homecoming Day Celebration, Henry Ford unveiled his newest invention, the "vegetable car!"

Hugh hooted with laughter.

"No folks, this was no joke. Mr. Ford proudly presented a cream-colored car whose body was 70 percent composed of fibers from straw, hemp, flax, and other plant materials, the other 30 percent composed of soymeal and liquid bioresin. Mr. Ford demonstrated the strength of the car body to gathered reporters by swinging an axe into the trunk. It bounced off."

Hugh couldn't believe it!

"The rubber tires were made from goldenrods by Ford's close friend, Thomas Edison. The gas tank contained a blend: about 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent corn-derived ethanol. Mr. Ford hopes this is the perfect vehicle for driving the American farmer out of a 20-year economic depression."

Hugh leaped in the air! He was thunderstruck by the idea of a vehicle made from plant materials that ran on fuel made from corn.

Corn was a crop he knew how to grow! It meant HE could help provide the world with the materials and fuel that would build great economies!

Henry Ford believed in farmers like him and his dad! Ford could see how important agriculture was! He could see it was a good thing for a country to be able to grow its own raw products, especially raw products for something as important as automobiles! He was the greatest inventor of all time.

Oh, what a day! To think, that just that day, at age 16, he'd had the sense to buy a Ford car!

He could hardly wait to see his friends.

More than 50 years later, Ford's vision for biologically based cars is moving closer to reality. Over 20,000 flexible-fueled vehicles, capable of running on more than 85 percent ethanol made from corn, are on the road in the U.S. Corn is also being used to make antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, interior plastics, fabrics and more.