Not surprising for a presidential candidate to visit an Iowa corn farmer
on his way through drought starved mid-western states. But this
particular farmer, this particular farm? A bit surprising.

Mitt Romney recently passed through Iowa to acknowledge this drought,
currently affecting 78% of the country. The situation threatens already
struggling farmers with outright ruin. To show concern, Romney visited
the farm of Lemar Koethe, an Iowa corn farmer, touring crops, surveying
the damage, and posing for photo ops. But the Romney campaign neglected
any photos of Koethe?s home, possibly because that home isn?t exactly
the modest all American farmhouse we might expect in this situation. In
fact, Koethe isn?t the typical all-American farmer.

According to the Des Moines Register, Koethe is faring rather better
than the average rural farmer. He owns ?54 soy and corn farms.? And, as
reported by Think Progress, ?that?s just one of his jobs.? Koethe is a
millionaire, ?a real estate mogul, and a former concert promoter who
booked acts like Slipknot at his 24,000 square foot event center.?

Koethe?s home, which stands on the corn farm Romney toured but didn?t
make the photo ops, reflects his success. And we think it deserves a
tour. Apparently part home, part spaceship, this one of a kind design
features an underground garage large enough for several vehicles?
complete with personal car-wash to keep them all sparkling clean. Also
on the lower level is a recreation center and art gallery. From there,
an elevator or a 35-foot stairway leads to the main living area offering
360 degree view of the property. The Environmental Design Group writes
?Arguably one of the most distinctive homes in Iowa-if not the nation-
this personal residence takes unique architecture to a new level.?

We?re not saying Koethe won?t be hard hit by the drought. But does he
represent the average Iowa corn farmer? And is his space-age mansion
creation the typical farm? We know you have a comment.