Subject: Demonstrating what the entrepreneurial spirit is.

The Frank Terrill Project - Spring 2004

I really enjoyed visiting Frank and seeing all the work he has done with his home/business. He has shown me that if you put your mind to it then you can achieve anything you want. His engineering mind was amazing. He used his technological mind and his knowledge of art to make his home very efficient and yet pleasing to the eye, which is not easy to do.

Bryson Buller

Dear Frank,

I highly appreciate the time you took yesterday to show us around and share with us the success that you have accomplished. You have taught me so much with your advice and words of thought that it was able to help me make decisions that very day and probably will help me for the rest of my life. I believe that what you have completed was very talented and unique and I am inspired by your dedication and faith in yourself to accomplish your dreams and goals. I only wish that I could do the same and touch other peoples lives like the way you did mine. You taught me not to do something just because somebody else wants me to and if I really want something I can have it. I never really gave much thought into what I want to do in my future other than knowing that I want to own my business. I have thought from clubs to food to clothing and I am currently dealing with advertising with graphic designs, but I am still undecided of what I want to do. I have been told that my artistic skills are extremely good and I will be able to make a good career out of it but I don’t see myself doing it. I feel that it is someone else’s dream if I continue on working with this but I am still contemplating if I want to pursue this as a job.

As I mentioned before, I thank you for your time and I appreciate you sharing with us your knowledge and success.

Thank You,

Alyssa Mora

Mr. Terrill,

I thought the crowning moment of the trip was hearing Frank read from Our Dynamic Society. This reading pulled together a lot of what was said about anti-consumerism and taking pride in your work. I think the world is going to an assembly line system without workers having pride in their work. This gives up a sense of identity and meaning in life in exchange for creature comforts. In the end, I think it is up to the individual to decide whether this is worth it. If the realization of this were to reach the masses, I believe a majority of individuals would realize the importance of pride in their own work and lives. I personally could not see how a lifetime of doing a simple mundane task repetitively would leave to a fulfilling life.

I also found value in the practicality of the house. Everything in and around the houses was built for maximum efficiency. This practicality allows for more time to be spent on different hobbies and projects. The lighting system was fantastic. From what little I know about it, it sounded like a logical alternative and a realistic.

The article in National Geographic made points about how the land in the Midwest is in bad shape and that it is becoming more and more unprofitable to be a farmer. This will most likely last until either enough people leave the plains to make farmers more of a rarity or the land reverts back to its initial state. I believe that a combination of both will create a new economic prosperity for the heartland over the next fifty years. The small number of farmers sticking around will become more of a commodity and because of a decrease in production; the price for the crops will rise. This increased price will allow some of these farmers to let the land begin to heal while still being profitable enough to get by.

Mike Juhnke

Heartland Article & Our Visit

I think the article was a great article. It really makes you think about staying in Kansas. That was really interesting about the buffalo that they could take over again. Then it would be like history all over again. That would be good for the states to gain population if they did pass that law to give higher tax returns.

Our class visit to your house was very interesting. I told Mr. Patterson my brain hurt after all of that. I couldn’t understand how someone could think of so many things. I thought you were very inspirational. Your ideas were fascinating. I would love to have a piece of your artwork. Most of the time I don’t see what the artist is trying to portray but yours really caught my eye. The watering system was very smart. We all like your dog Minnie too. She was so friendly and cute. Thank you very much for having us out there. It taught me to broaden my thinking and that anyone can achieve what they want as long as they put some effort into it.

Rachel Ballard

Hey Frank,

The article in the National Geographic titled Change in the Heartland opened my eyes. I thought about it and realized that the population in the Great Plains is decreasing. People are moving to the coast to work for places that provide a steady pay check. It also opened my eyes to the fact that most of the farms in the Plains are corporate farms and that there is fewer family farms left in the area. Another fact that I found interesting was that the median age in most Plain states is 60 years old. The younger generations are moving away while the elders are set in their ways and want to stay in the area. Hopefully we will see a turn around in our lifetime.

I would like to thank you for having us out to your house. One thing that you stated really stood out to me and that was if you’re going to build something, build it to last. It is one of the things that everyone knows but never says or really thinks about. It was a good experience to see someone who acted on this idea and built their house with this in mind. I would like to say that you inspired me, as a woodworker to never take for granite making something with my hands. I also enjoyed seeing you art work you are a great artist. Once again thanks.

Sincerely

Stephen Armstrong

Frank,

Thank you very much for letting our class visit with you and Irene. You two are very awesome people with great ideas! I really do appreciate the confidence you guys have in today's youth. You give many a great inspiration to succeed! I really enjoyed visiting with you and Irene! Thanks again for your concern and confidence in today's youth!

Sincerely,

Suzanna