At the crossroads of two cultural icons exists Jay Sigmund, born near the Wapsipinicon River in Waubeek, Iowa. As the Regionalist movement was in full swing guess who had an enormous influence on well-known artist Grant Wood? Jay Sigmund! Also at this time, a paperboy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was working on his interests in poetry with Jay Sigmund--this paperboy was Paul Engle, who later went on to co-create and direct the Iowa Writers' Workshop and start the International Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. In his time, Jay Sigmund was a successful insurance agent, but also a respected and well-known author who had a major impact on Midwestern culture through his deep love and respect of his place in Iowa.