Sunday, January 11, 2:00pm

Tickets: $10 per person

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Living History Farms presents a new play by Iowa's Poet Laureate, Mary Swander. Map of My Kingdom explores issues surrounding farmland transition. It was commissioned by the Practical Farmers of Iowa, who are also partnering with Living History Farms to present the play.

In the play, character Angela Martin, a lawyer and mediator in land transition disputes, shares stories of how farmers and landowners have approached their land transitions. Some families struggled to resolve the sale or transfer of their land, dissolving relationships. Others found peacefully rational solutions that focused on keeping the land - and the family - together.

Map of My Kingdom will be performed at 2 pm in the Church of the Land at Living History Farms. The location is significant because the church building, itself, commemorates the 1979 homily by Pope John Paul II to 350,000 Iowans in which he urged us all to be stewards of the land.

The play runs just under one hour and will be followed by a "talk-back" between audience members and Mary Swander. Kristi Knous, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, will also provide information about a new program, "Keep Iowa Growing," a program designed to help farmers ensure their land will stay in production, while benefiting charitable causes important to them. Conversation will continue over coffee and dessert in the church basement.