1. Birth of John Wayne: On May 25, 1907, Marion Morrison, who later became known as John Wayne, was born in Winterset, Iowa. Wayne went on to become one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood history, starring in over 170 films and earning three Academy Award nominations.

2. Tornado Outbreak: On May 25, 2008, a tornado outbreak struck Iowa, producing two EF5 tornadoes which caused widespread damage and killed six people. It was one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Iowa's history.

3. Birth of Peggy Whitson: On May 25, 1960, Peggy Whitson was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Whitson went on to become an astronaut and is the first woman to command the International Space Station, as well as holding several other records for time spent in space.

4. Iowa Statehood: On May 25, 1846, Iowa was admitted to the Union as the 29th state. This came after years of territorial status and debate over whether Iowa should be free or slave.

5. Farm Crisis: On May 25, 1985, President Ronald Reagan signed the Farm Credit Amendments Act of 1985, which aimed to help struggling farmers during a crisis in the agricultural industry. Many Iowa farmers had been facing financial difficulties due to declining commodity prices and high interest rates.