Greetings, I’m Captain Cornelius and I would like to be your travel guide. None of us, unless our ancestors were American Indians, can call ourselves native Americans. Most of our families came from Europe, Africa, or Asia. When we study the history of our families it is called genealogy. Today, I would like to tell you about my families’ history. Let’s call it CORN...alogy.

My roots began in Central America over 7,000 years ago. It has often been said that my early ancestors were truly a ...MAIZE...ing. Corn is a member of the grass family of plants.

The Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Indians of Central and South America learned to use almost every part of the corn plant. The leaves contain a large amount of sugar and they used them as the first "chewing gum." Immature corn was eaten as a fresh vegetable. The dry, mature kernels of corn were ground into flour, parched or popped. Can you imagine the Aztec Indian children eating popcorn just like you do at the movies?

By the time Christopher Columbus reached the New World in 1492, corn was grown from Southern Canada to the Andes Mountains in South America. Early white settlers soon learned to depend on corn as their main crop.

History says it was corn that saved the Pilgrims that first winter in New England.

The Indian farmers of the Ohio River Valley had been growing corn for over 1,700 years when the first white-men crossed the Appalachian Mountains.

The trail of corn can be followed throughout our history. Corn continues to be a major source of food for humans and animals. Thanks to modern technology corn has found its place in modern history.

Corn, a truly national renewable resource, is being used to solve many of the environmental problems facing us. Ethanol, an alcohol made from corn, is being blended with gasoline to help reduce air pollution. One hundred percent biodegradable plastics are being made from corn which promise to help with the problem of overflowing land fills. Scientists have even developed a road de-icer made from corn to replace salt and other water polluting chemicals.

The next time you have a family reunion or get-together, remember my family. I know our jokes may be a little corny and we all might have big ears, but most people agree that corn has played an important part in man’s history.

Corn and its modern uses promise to help make a better future for all of us.