Preorder Available

Title released on June 27, 2023

Cornfields to Gold Medals is now available for preorder through Amazon and wherever you order your books.

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Below we share a short passage (not included in the book) that captures the simplicity of a weekly ritual that became a fond memory for Coach Showalter of his father, Donald.

Donald Showalter (left) and his brother, Darrel (right) watch Donnie Showalter (Donald’s son) score 24 points in leading the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks to a victory at the state tournament - in this 1970s modified photo from the Des Moines Tribune. Donald attended every game he could (home and away) when Donnie played and later coached. He was often seen in the stands holding a radio to his ear, listening to the play-by-play.

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Sunday Night Burnt Popcorn

The kernels spilled into the heated oil lying at the base of the black kettle. Donald leaned over the kettle as it rest on the kitchen stovetop. He closed the lid and began to turn the hand crank, to spin the kernels. Voices filled the living space in the family farmhouse: the Showalter boys at play and the voices of visitors, as it was common for the Showalters to find themselves surrounded by family and friends on Sunday evenings. Donald continued to turn the crank, fully present in his task, beaming with a sense of pride; making the Sunday popcorn was his moment, a weekly ritual that brought people together.

The kernels spun in the kettle and bobbed in the oil as they heated until they could no longer hold their shape - bursting into a white-yellow foamy appearance three to four times their original size, then cooling to a puffy flake. The noise of exploding kernels contended with the noise of the conversation. The scent of freshly popped corn filtered through the crowd. After dispersing each batch, Donald began the next round: adding oil, pouring the kernels, and turning the crank. Sunday evenings provided a moment free from the rigors of the week, pulled together by the delight of the white puffy flakes.

The plainness of this weekly ritual could easily be lost in time, but Donald unconsciously made sure it was memorable. As more kernels lost their shape and the puffy flakes pushed upward on the top of the kettle lid, the sound of exploding kernels slowly began to diminish. This was the moment to pull the kettle away from the heat to avoid burning the corn. But Donald stood patient. He waited until the kernels finished. He loved burnt popcorn. The burnt aroma lingered through the evening, growing stronger with each batch. Donald’s burnt popcorn became a part of family lore, providing the Showalter brothers, years later, an opportunity to reminisce and remember their father.