Patricia Westphal - IMFH Class of 2022
Adair County

The “backbone of the operation” is how Dan Westphal describes his wife, Patricia, with a smile, the 2022 Iowa Master Farm Homemaker. She has shown she is that — and a leader for her family and the community.

The Adair County woman grew up on a Missouri dairy farm. She met Dan during a social dance class at Northwest Missouri State University, where the two were students and became the first in each of their families to earn a college degree. “I recall talking about how we both loved farming on one of our first dates,” Dan says. While it wasn’t always easy, they both are glad to have found their way to Dan’s family farm near Bridgewater, Iowa.

“We know we have to keep making improvements to the farm to help provide for the next generations,” Pat says. The 160 acres of farm ground was petitioned in 1864 by Dan’s family. While they have been on this farm for many years, the couple first worked on another farm and then purchased a farm in 1982, eventually making their way back to Dan’s family’s operation.

Early times on the farm were not always easy. Pat is thankful for the gardening skills and work ethic that were instilled in her at a young age, which helped to provide meals for the family when farm profits were low and meals needed to be homegrown. They had a milk cow, laying hens, beef cattle and hogs, which — along with the garden — provided all but flour and sugar to make the meals. Pat is also a seamstress and would sew clothes for the family as needed.

Bringing up a family

Raising their family on the farm was something the two knew they wanted to do. Daughter Amy and son Todd helped on the farm with the crops, livestock and garden. In the early 1980s, when many farmers were pushed out during the Farm Crisis, the Westphals were determined to keep the farm going. Dan had worked at the local co-op for a year when the manager told him he wanted to join he and Pat for lunch one day.

“He said he was going to come home with me for lunch, so I phoned Pat to let her know,” Dan explains. “That’s when he asked her to be a part-time bookkeeper at the co-op.”

Pat’s college degree was in accounting, and it seemed like a perfect fit and would help bring some more income to the farm. She continued part time up until Todd was born and then stayed home with the kids until they were in school, at which time she started back at the co-op as the full-time bookkeeper. This led to her eventually being named the first female branch manager of the co-op.

At the co-op, she helped with all aspects of the business, just as she does on the farm. Pat helped with harvest activities, animal feed and fertilizer, and continued to do the bookwork and assisted customers with their accounts. This continued until her retirement in 2016.

Back on the farm, the Westphals expanded when it worked, adding land and animals. Livestock was always their main focus, and at one point they had a 130-head cow-calf operation and farrow-to-finish hog operation. Pasture and hay, as well as grain raised on the farm, were used to feed the livestock.

The hog operation grew through the 1990s. “I didn’t know anything about hogs since I was raised on a dairy farm. The beef cattle were easier to manage for me, but I helped with the hogs, too. I pulled a lot of pigs back then,” Pat says. The decision was made to phase out of the hog operation in 1996, and the Westphals were completely out of hogs by 1997, when the market started to drop.

“Getting rid of our livestock was the hardest part of the decisions. We both love the animals and are thankful to have pasture rented to others, so livestock is still part of the farm,” she says. The cows were eventually sold in phases to a neighbor, who continues to rent their pasture.

Through the years, their children were involved in 4-H, showing hogs and doing other projects at the county fair. Dan and Pat were also involved at the fair by being 4-H leaders and serving as swine superintendents. Attending athletic events were and continue to be part of their lives. Son Todd, now deceased, was quite a wrestler, and even competed in college for Iowa Central Community College.

They have enjoyed attending activities for Amy and husband Russell Dall’s daughters, Katelyn and Lillian.

“We hate to miss an event. The girls have been involved in cross country, basketball, track and dance,” Pat adds. “We also enjoy having the family come here. When they were here a few weeks ago, I asked Lillian what she’d like to do, and her answer was to bake a pie with Grandma. I was more than happy to do that.”

Staying busy with current activities

Despite retiring from the co-op six years ago, Pat has continued to stay busy and has had more time to help with church and Legion Auxiliary activities, as well as continuing to grow produce in the garden.

“Gardening has always been one of my favorite hobbies. I can and/or freeze sweet corn, green beans, tomatoes, pickles and sauerkraut,” she says. “We love to be able to share extra produce with our neighbors and use each other’s recipes for different dishes.”
Church and neighborhood gatherings are a time for fellowship and friendship. Flower beds on the Westphal farm are filled with flowers that have been exchanged among friends.
More time with family has been a great part of the Westphal’s past few years. The couple enjoys trips with Dan’s brothers and families and get-togethers at their pond.
“We always bring visitors down to our pond to feed the fish. Those fish hear people, and they expect to get a treat,” Dan says of their pond. Built just to the east of their homestead, the pond has been stocked with fish and provides them with an enjoyable pastime to spend with the family.

The Westphals hope their farm will continue to provide as many memories for the next generations as they have had with these generations.
Family Pictured are Daniel Westphal (left), Patricia Westphal, Katelyn Dall, Lillian Dall, Amy Dall and Russ Dall with an early tractor used on the Westphal farm and the current tractor.

Joyce Stover - IMFH Class of 2021
Louisa County

Joyce Stover got her start in 4-H at age 12. To this day, she's still actively involved — and it's a tradition she's shared with her three children and her grandchildren.
"I started in 4-H in 1965, and I'm still going," Joyce says.

She fondly remembers her projects growing up in Buena Vista County, where her parents, Curtis and Phyllis Haroldson, farmed.

"At that time in 4-H, you had to join a boys club or girls club. I wanted to show livestock, so I joined a boys club and showed cattle and hogs," she says. "My favorite project was probably a junior feeder project. It's where you had five calves, weighed them in, and fed them and took them to the fair, penned them, weighed them, and you figured out the rate of gain and feed efficiency."

Active in 4-H and ag education her whole life, Stover shares her talents with the community, along with her children and grandchildren. And she's passed on that passion through two more generations. This passion for community and agriculture education is part of the reason she's been named a 2021 Iowa Master Farm Homemaker.

Joyce met her husband, Ron, while attending Iowa State University, where she studied animal science for three years before transferring to the University of Iowa to get a nursing degree. Joyce and Ron married in 1974, before she graduated in 1976.

Since then, they've had three children. Their first son, Justin, was born in 1976, followed by son Nathan in 1980 and daughter Stacy in 1990.

They moved to the farm where they now live near Mediapolis in southeast Iowa in 1979.The farm itself has changed since then. Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Joyce and Ron raised sheep and hogs. Now, they primarily raise cattle, corn and soybeans, but they have also raised meat goats for 4-H and FFA projects since the mid-2000s.

Commitment to community

In 1980, Ron got an off-farm job teaching agriculture, and had to cut down on livestock numbers, which meant getting rid of the sheep herd. Since then, both Joyce and Ron have had off-farm jobs. Ron taught ag and FFA, owned a Purina feed dealership and elevator, and worked at Big River Resources, an ethanol plant in Burlington from 2004 until he retired this March.

Joyce has made a career in health care and education, working as a nurse, youth program coordinator for Des Moines County Extension from 1987 to 1991, an in-home health care provider from 1991 to 2003, and an employee at Great River Hospice in West Burlington from 2003 to 2020, when she retired.

Joyce also aided the community as a volunteer. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mediapolis, teaching Sunday school for 25 years, helping with the Christmas program and Bible school, and working with the youth group.

She's also a member of Patriotic Quilters of Southeast Iowa, sewing around 19 quilts over the last three years. In 2020, she dedicated her time to sewing face masks, making around 1,300 masks since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and donating them to nonprofits, individuals and schools.

She also sews hospice quilts for Southeast Regional Medical Center in Burlington, formerly Great River Hospice, where she worked for 17 years.Over the years, Joyce has been committed to helping people going through difficult times, including loss and grief. After she retired in December, she joined Born an Angel, Iowa, which involves using donated wedding dresses to sew gowns for grieving families who have lost an infant.

A new era for 4-H

Joyce has stayed involved in 4-H, including helping her children and grandchildren with livestock showing and static projects. She helped established a sewing club and a rabbit hopping and agility class for 4-H, as well as the Little Crowers and Little Thumpers programs for the Des Moines County Fair, a class for first, second and third graders with an interest in poultry and rabbits, respectively. Each program is an hour long and introduces kids to the basics of poultry and rabbit care. In 2018, Joyce and Ron were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.

As youth program coordinator for Des Moines County Extension for four years, she helped start a bucket bottle calf program for the fair. "Washington County started a bucket bottle calf program. I knew the youth director there, who provided the information, and it came back to the fair board, and we started the bucket bottle calf program here," Joyce says. "It grew to include bottle lambs, bottle goats, and then Don Beckman from the fair board started the pre-4-H bucket bottle class for first, second and third graders. If you're in third grade you can bring a project back the next year, and you've already got a project for your first year of 4-H."

Of course, Joyce and Ron's three children have been active in 4-H and FFA as well. They exhibited sheep, hogs, goats and cattle in their local county fair, and sheep and cattle at the Iowa State Fair, and also showed static projects. It's a tradition that's now being carried on by their grandchildren.

"Justin's son, Brock [21] went through 4-H and lives in Iowa. Cora [17] and Isaac [14], Nathan's children who live in North Carolina, have lived with us in the summer to do 4-H. Isaac is going to be a high school freshman this year, so he'll have four more years of 4-H," Joyce says. "By that time, Isaiah, Stacy's son, will be ready, but he'll be showing in Van Buren County, where they live. I've got four more years with Isaac, and I hope I'll be able to help Isaiah with static projects if he's interested."

Tracy Van Diepen - IMFH Class of 2021
Osceola County

Tracy Van Diepen grew up steeped in agriculture on her family's farm near Breda in Carroll County, Iowa, where she developed a passion for livestock early on in life.
"I grew up on a dairy farm, but we also had beef cattle, hogs, a horse and sheep," Van Diepen says. "The sheep were my hobby sheep, and our main livestock were dairy cows, beef cows and hogs as well. It was kind of typical for that era."
It's that passion that Tracy and her husband, John, have instilled in their children: Collin, 22, Lauren, 21, and Jillian, 16. This is just one reason Tracy has been named a 2021 Iowa Master Farm Homemaker.

Tracy and John both graduated from Iowa State University — Tracy in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in management of operations, and John in 1994 with a degree in ag business. Tracy met John on a chance meeting in Sibley while she was visiting a friend in 1996. They married in 1997, before moving to John's family farm in Osceola County in northwest Iowa in 1999, where John raises corn and soybeans, and custom-feeds hogs. They've also raised sheep and meat goats as 4-H projects.

"The sheep were my idea. I had sheep growing up, and our neighbor has dairy goats. I always get a kick out of them. A goat has a tremendous personality," she says. "Animals have always been my thing. I just love animals. Even now, we have two mama goats that were 4-H projects last year but never made it to the fair because they were not broke to lead — so I kept them."

They quit raising sheep in 2018, and while their goat numbers have changed over time, they currently have six goats. Both sheep and goats have been a learning experience, Van Diepen says.

"This is the second time we've had goats. The first time, we had four mama goats, and they had babies, and they would get out. Finally we got tired of it — and goat prices were good, so we sold them," she says. "So now we know we basically have to build a prison. That's why we've used cattle panels and gray steel fences. It might not be pretty, but it keeps them in, for the most part."

Van Diepen is also an avid horse rider. The family owns two horses: Francis, a bay quarter horse; and Harmony, a golden dun quarter horse. The horses were originally Lauren and Jillian's 4-H projects.

Community leader
Off the farm, Van Diepen has been heavily involved in her community, and has been dedicated to her faith as well as education. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sibley, playing piano for the church's praise team, and filling in for the organist when needed. She also teaches Sunday school, serves as an elder, and serves on the Christian Education Committee. She has previously served as director of the church's Logos program on Wednesday nights, and as Bible School director.

She's volunteered her time in the community in several capacities — most recently, she began her first term on the Iowa State University Extension Council for Osceola County.

Van Diepen also has dedicated much of her time to education in the community, having served on the board for the Sibley-Ocheyedan School District from 2009 to 2017. For the last eight years, she's worked as a substitute paraprofessional at Sibley-Ocheyedan Elementary School.

"Last year, I got my teaching authorization, so now I can sub for teachers and paras," she adds. "COVID was a strange year. When people were out, they were out for many days, so they needed more substitutes at school. So I got to be there quite a bit, which has been enjoyable."

Nurturing youth for future
However, Tracy's commitment to education doesn't stop there. Through the years, she's stayed involved with her children's 4-H and FFA projects. Collin, Lauren and Jillian have all showed goats, sheep and horses throughout 4-H and FFA, and taken horse riding lessons. In addition, Collin and Jillian have also shown German shorthaired pointers in 4-H.

Van Diepen has grown a cornucopia of different produce and flowers in her garden, which has often contributed to her kids' 4-H projects.

"I love to grow pumpkins and gourds, so fall is extra-fun. We like making salsa, so we grow tomatoes, peppers and onions. We grow beets for pickled beets and cucumbers, because John likes pickle relish. We have some squash and cabbage, and we planted some asparagus," Van Diepen says. "We've done a lot of salsa recipes, especially with my two girls in 4-H. You have to make something different every year. So we might try different salsas, like pineapple or peach salsa. We never used to eat hot pepper jelly, but it's something we had the kids make for 4-H, and now we like it."

"There are a lot of things we give away. At church we have the Heavenly Harvest Table, and gardeners can bring extra produce," she says. "Anyone in the congregation is welcome to shop there all season long, and put in a freewill donation. The proceeds then go to our local food pantry. So sometimes, we just grow produce for church. We don't eat squash, but we take it to church."

Of course, there have been a number of other static projects throughout the years. For example, Jillian has been an avid crafter; Lauren enjoyed photography; and Collin repainted, lifted and modified a 1997 Ford F350 Power Stroke pickup.

"I am excited to see if our kids, when on their own, use the skills they learned in both 4-H and FFA," Van Diepen adds. "I hope someday they'll think, 'That really was beneficial for me.'"

Carol Coleman - IMFH Class of 2019
Humboldt County

For the past six years, Carol and Dean Coleman hosted a group of second graders on the Coleman farm west of Humboldt, Iowa.  It’s a day of learning.  Students from Taft Elementary School get firsthand experience planting Iowa corn and soybeans.  The Adopt-A-Farmer project begins with spring planting and finishes in the fall when the kids come back and harvest the crop they helped to plant.  This year, 82 students are participating.  

The students hand-plant the plots.  During summer they follow crop progress via videos online and parents drive them by the field.  Dean and Carol, along with son Mike, started this program in 2013 to help students understand how and why farmers raise crops.  The Coleman family grows corn and soybeans on their north-Central Iowa Farm.  “We wanted kids to have a chance to meet the people who do the farming”, says Carol, who was a preschool teacher for 20 years, and is a mother of two and a grandmother of five.  “We want kids to be able to put a face on farmers, who provide the basics of everyday life: food on their tables, giver in clothing, renewable fuel and many other products made from crops.”

Prior to planting season, the Colemans visit the classroom and explain the “Adopt-A-Farmer” program.  They provide videos of Farmer Dean and Farmer Mike doing their jobs, so students can see what’s involved with spraying crops, welding farm equipment, making a hitch for a planter or fixing the tractor’s computer.  Via video, students “ride” in the sprayer and planter with Dean and Mike.  The students get excited when they see their crops in the field and know what’s growing.  To help make a connection between crops planted, livestock raised and food on the table, the Colemans share soymilk and corn chips when the kids.  

Legacy of leadership will live on
Dean died August 13, 2019 in a farm accident.  Carol and Dean taught Sunday school when their kids were young; both were 4-H leaders.  Dean was on the Humboldt County Fair Board, active in Humboldt County Farm Bureau and served on the county ISU Extension Council.  

Dean was active in the Iowa Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association.  The Colemans hosted foreign trade groups visiting Iowa.  Carol and Dean raised two sons on the farm.  Nick Coleman and his wife, Jaime, live in Ogden with their two children and own a retail see and agronomy service.  Mike and his wife Michelle, have three children and live next to Carol.  

Rosemary Pacha - IMFH Class of 2019
Washington County
By Lynn Betts

Rosemary Pacha has been in the middle of numerous community projects in Brighton over the years — with many of them being her idea. She was the spark that put the ideas in motion and put in the time and work with others to follow through to make them successful. The 2019 Master Farm Homemaker is still full of energy and involved in pretty much every community project in Brighton, just a mile away from her Jefferson County farm.

Rosemary kept records for their grain and livestock operation, and she helped make marketing and financial decisions. She was also part of making decisions to build ponds and terraces, plant trees, and use conservation practices such as contouring on the farm. She also tended the farmstead and went to many agriculture meetings as she and her husband, Gerald, raised two children, Jeff and Jennifer. Sadly, Gerald passed away last April.

A lifelong learner, Rosemary put her goal of earning a master’s degree from ISU in Family and Consumer Science on hold until her children were grown — but she worked off the farm for more than 40 years, retiring in 2004 after teaching junior high students at Washington schools. 

The curator of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library was so impressed with Rosemary’s passion for tea history that he asked her to take possession of and show others a historical “Teas at the White House” display.  

Among her innovations was organizing and running a week-long food science camp for 12 years to help middle school students learn about careers in food and science.

Rosemary was also recognized statewide for her work in 1994 when she was named Iowa Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Home Economics Association. 

Whoopee Pie Queen
Brighton was incorporated in 1870 and celebrated paving its first street 40 years later. “Whoopee!” townsfolk yelled, and thus started a tradition of Whoopee Days. Rosemary will be in the middle of things when the town celebrates 150 years of incorporation next year. 

A board member of the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, she has long been a key volunteer in helping the town celebrate its biggest community event. 

She’s personally made 200 miniature whoopee pies — an Amish treat with a cream filling between two cookies — to give to each person in the parade. She made and donated more whoopee pies as a fundraiser for the Lions Club. 

With help from the Altar and Rosary church group, she made 1,500 whoopee pies to promote the chamber when Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa came through town. 

The Dream Team
Rosemary walks nearly every morning with a small group of Brighton women dubbed the “Dream Team.” As they walk, they talk — and dream about what they can do to improve the community. 

The seeds sown on those walks have grown into projects such as delivering cookies to new residents and businesses; arranging assistance for painting homes; painting murals on downtown building walls; and getting a grant to establish Washington County’s Freedom Rock in Brighton.

It was Rosemary’s idea to replace an unsightly, trash-filled ditch just west of the rock on Highway 1 with a colorful, functioning butterfly garden. On the south side of town, a community garden is now planted every year — another project conceived and nurtured by the Dream Team. Rosemary’s Horizons facilitator position with ISU Extension helped many community projects along.

Rosemary holds up her favorite quilt, one she crafted for her husband Gerald that showcases some of his favorite sayings

PROLIFIC PATCHWORK: Rosemary’s favorite of the more than two dozen quilts she’s put together is one she crafted for her husband, Gerald, showcasing some of his favorite sayings. Gerald passed away earlier this year.

Rosemary has been active in 4-H, the Corn Growers and Soybean Associations, PEO, Friends of Lake Darling, the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, the National Education Association, Saint Joseph and Cabrini Catholic churches, and other organizations. 

In her case, “active” means “doing.” For instance, her entire family helped raise money for their church with her delicious and popular caramel apples. 

“It was a family thing,” Rosemary says. “When the kids saw how popular they were at our fall fundraising church bazaar, they said we should get a booth so we could sell more. So that’s what we did.” 

Now, each fall Rosemary makes 300 caramel apples, apple bars, apple sugar cookies and apple mix that all sell out in no time. Junior high students — both boys and girls — enrolled in her elective food science class just so they could learn to make caramel apples and whoopee pies and bake real pies.

Rosemary and Gerald helped design, construct, paint and install many of the over 110 barn quilts in Washington County to encourage tourism, and Rosemary was part of a campaign to apply successfully to have a portion of Highways 1 and 78 named “The Ding Darling Highway.” They also hosted exchange students several summers.

She’s helped with community Easter egg hunts, breakfasts with Santa, Ding Darling Day, sewing dresses out of pillowcases for girls overseas and numerous other local activities. 

“It’s just fun to do these things,” Rosemary says. 

Sandy Nelson - IMFH Class of 2019
Jefferson County
By Lynn Betts

There isn’t much Sandy Nelson hasn’t done on her family’s Century Farm in Jefferson County. Sandy raked and baled hay, and cultivated corn as a teenager on land that was first farmed in 1875 by her great-great-grandfather, Pacific Bruey. Now, as a grandmother of 12, she handles a four-wheel-drive John Deere tractor for fieldwork, runs the grain cart, keeps the books for multiple operations, and regularly cooks big meals for family gatherings.

Over the years, Sandy ran the combine in the fall; she still hauls anhydrous tanks from field to field and moves equipment from farm to farm, covering 3,000 acres she and her husband, Jerry, operate with son-in-law Brent Hoskins. She’s trying to cut back on fieldwork now, but she’s still the go-to person who runs for parts and gets meals to the field.

For a time, Sandy ran the farm by herself, raising three small children — Amy, Mindy and Richard — after her first husband, Paul Teeter, was killed in a highway crash. She married Jerry Nelson in 1983, and the family grew with Jerry’s two daughters, Jolene and Julie. Jerry and Sandy acquired more land over time and raised hogs together for more than 30 years.

Talking with Hope
Despite all the farm work, the 2019 Master Farm Homemaker’s priority has been her children and grandchildren — especially their education. Sandy was in 4-H as a young girl, and served as a 4-H leader for 12 years and a Girl Scouts leader for eight years.

“I think 4-H was my favorite,” she says of her community volunteering. “In the early years, I helped kids with their horses. I’ve always had horses.”

Over the years, Sandy showed horses and broke them to ride and to lead. It wasn’t all good — when she was about 30, one of the horses she was working with kicked her in the face. “There was a lot of blood. I lost some teeth and got a lot of stitches,” she says. “But there were many more good times than bad, like winning the pleasure class at the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City.”

“My first horse was a pony named Cricket. I broke her myself and showed her in horse shows when I was a young girl. She lived to be 22; I could always talk to her. I don’t ride anymore, but I still talk to Hope, the horse I have now.”

PIG PROMOTER: Sandy Nelson decorates a concrete pig in her front yard for every holiday. A pork producer for years, Sandy helped start the first sow cooperative in Jefferson County, was one of the women who started the county Porkettes and is still involved with the Iowa Pork Producers.

Sandy’s rule of “homework before chores or fun” and other educational encouragement had a positive effect; all her children have college degrees. She continued that commitment with grandchildren; whenever they visited as youngsters, she read books to them. Her “family first” culture includes hosting dinner for the three children and their families who live in the Fairfield area nearly every Sunday. All are involved in ag, so farming is the topic of discussion.

She also hosts birthday parties for the grandchildren and a Christmas dinner for cousins that brings 40 to 50 family members to the house each Christmas.

Couldn’t say no
Sandy laughs when she explains how she got so involved in community service that began years ago. “I worked at Parsons College before our first daughter, Amy, was born, and at the same time was working on the farm. But when I quit that job and began working on the farm and raising a family, I kept getting all these calls,” Sandy says. “The callers would say, ‘Since you don’t work now, we thought you might volunteer for us.’ Here I was, helping with all the hogs, fieldwork and even a bunch of bucket calves, plus raising a family, but people thought I wasn’t busy.

“I couldn’t say no. But in the end, it was a good thing. Other people were willing to step up, too. That’s how things get done.”

Things that “get done” by Sandy and others include “Trunk or Treat,” a safe way to encourage trick-or-treating at Halloween. As many as 30 cars set up for a day, with trunks full of candy, safety books, pencils, etc., at the fairgrounds. Sandy helps coordinate the open class entries and presents activities in a one-room schoolhouse at Jefferson County Fairgrounds as part of Ag in the Classroom.

She taught Sunday school and Bible school for 10 years and was instrumental in donating and raising money to give Bethesda Methodist Church a makeover, with new siding, windows, doors and more. Sandy was a district representative for Pony Express Riders to raise money for Camp Courageous and has been a member of Farm Bureau and the Iowa Pork Producers Association for years.

Yoshiko Johnson - IMFH Class of 2019
Floyd County

Born and raised in Japan and then becoming an Iowa farm wife, Yoshiko Johnson is the epitome of global awareness.  In 1969, after meeting and marrying Erwin Johnson, a young man from northeast Iowa, she made the trip to live on an Iowa farm.  Surrounded by farmland rather than a busy city, she had to adapt to a new life completely foreign to anything she had known.  

Now celebrating 50 years of marriage, Yoshiko and Erwin over the years grew their family farm operation near Charles City, Iowa, and raised two daughters.  Daughter Amy is married to Robert Kassad, has two children and lives in California.  Wendy Johnson and husband Johnny Rafkin and their daughter live on a farm near Yoshiko and Erwin.  Wendy works for the family farm corporation, Center View Farms.  They produce corn, soybeans, hay and sheep.  For many years Erwin and Yoshiko farrowed and finished hogs.

As Amy and Wendy grew up, Yoshiko helped them learn about their heritage, taking them on trips to Japan and providing other ways of learning.  Yoshiko and Erwin have hosted many international visitors over the years, especially young people interested in learning about Iowa agriculture.  The Johnsons keep in contact with some of the many students they’ve hosted.  

Yoshiko and Erwin support their community in many ways.  Erwin served on the Charles City Board and Floyd County Community Foundation Board.  He is finance chair for their church, chaired county Farm Bureau committees, and was on the drainage district steering committee.  Yoshiko served on the county Porkettes and was active in local Farm Bureau Women, serving as chair.  Yoshko was a 4-H leader with Erwin.  She continues to teach Sunday School.  

Uses Talents to Help Community
Yoshiko is a gifted artist - painting, batik art and pottery.  She often sells her artwork at shows and for special orders.  Active in the Charles City Art Center, she served as board chair and interim director of activities.  She contributes her artistic talents to various local causes.  Yoshiko made sure her daughters learned to play piano when growing up.  Music is still an important part of their lives.  “The daughters value their mother’s artistic abilities and support her in all endeavors.  They respect their mother’s wishes and advice,” says Cindee Schnekloth, who nominated Yoshiko for the IMFH award.  “The family remains close and works together well.”

Fran Mueller - IMFH Class of 2018
Bremer County
By Rod Swoboda

ISU SWEETHEARTS: Fran and Howard Mueller met at Iowa State University. “Fran has always found ways to share her talents to help improve the lives of others,” Howard says. In the early 1980s in the cab of a combine, Fran Mueller and a friend shared with one another their concerns about their families and rural Iowa. It was the beginning of the 1980s farm crisis, a period of severe financial turmoil in agriculture with low crop and livestock prices, plummeting land values, and lots of red ink. The stress on farm families was intense. But wringing of hands is not in Fran’s wheelhouse; constructive action is.

With her neighbor, Fran organized a gathering of families, each with a unique situation, but all feeling the unrelenting financial pressure of the time. The families began meeting monthly to discuss positive steps that could help each family survive the stresses and prepare to thrive in the future. Together, they did just that.

Originally from Ohio and a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Fran taught at Iowa State University where she met Howard Mueller, who was in graduate school. In 1958, following their marriage, Fran’s farming career began when she returned with Howard to farm in Bremer County in northeast Iowa.

She quickly learned how to operate machinery and handle and care for hogs and cattle.

Fran and Howard raised two sons, Mark and Steve. Today, Mark and his family farm with Fran and Howard. Steve, a small-business owner, lives with his family at Van Meter. Both sons are ISU grads. Fran and Howard have four granddaughters.

Fran also taught at Wartburg College in Waverly and at St. Paul’s Lutheran elementary school.

Fran and Howard are “retired” but stay active by participating in church and community activities, and helping Mark farm. Fran is the treasurer for Mueller Farms.

Leadership extends beyond Iowa
Fran’s leadership extends well beyond the family farm and Iowa. She’s active in the global ag community through her work with Self-Help International, headquartered in Waverly.

GOOD WORK: Self-Help projects are reaching impoverished people in western Africa and Central America, helping them learn how to improve their food production, Fran Mueller says.
During her 23 years of service on the Self-Help board, including 12 years as chair, Fran helped guide the development of staff, expansion of community involvement, and the organization’s work to develop improved seed and farming methods for farmers in Nicaragua and Ghana.

“Fran is a leader in all that she does and makes better every group she interacts with by sharing her time and talent,” says Nora Tobin, executive director of Self-Help.

“In such a small organization with just two full-time U.S. staff members, our board members play a very important and active role in this nonprofit organization’s success,” Tobin says.

“Fran served as board chair for over a decade, and under her tenure, Self-Help was able to open a new country program and triple its operating budget,” she says. “Fran has visited the farm families we serve in Ghana and Nicaragua many times, always at her own expense, to listen to their needs, see the progress they’re making, encourage them, and ensure that Self-Help is serving their needs the best way possible. She is unwavering in her commitment to help people help themselves.”

As chair of Allen Hospital Board in Waterloo, Fran was instrumental in the elevation of Allen’s School of Nursing to Allen College of Nursing. She was the first woman elected to the Allen Hospital Board and served for 23 years — 12 years as chairperson.

Fran and Howard have hosted international students studying at Wartburg College and other international guests on the farm.

Fran is active in Bible study and book clubs. She sings in the church choir (50-plus years) and is a member of Waverly Community Symphony Association. Fran also enjoys sewing as a hobby.

Strong ties to family farm
The Muellers’ sons say they admire their parents’ accomplishments and care for others. The entire family is involved with the annual planting and harvest. They also enjoy canoeing, biking and traveling together. The grandparents especially enjoy time with their grandchildren. 

At St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Waverly, Fran helped develop the physical education program for kindergarten through sixth grade. She served as president of the congregation at St. Paul’s, and on committees of the PEO philanthropic group and Waverly Rotary.

Fran completed coursework at the University of Northern Iowa for a master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She has an honorary doctorate from Allen College of Nursing, honoring her years of service on the board.

Digging archaeology
As a young girl, Fran became interested in archaeology. After her children were grown, she applied to a program coordinated by five different U.S. universities and became a team leader of volunteer archeologists in Israel.

Every summer for five years she participated in the dig. “Our dig was in a farming area in southern Israel,” Fran says. “I observed agriculture in a country that’s very challenged by lack of moisture. But with drip irrigation and water management, they produced impressive crops. It was an interesting learning experience and I enjoyed teaching and working with the students.”

The Rev. Dennis Dickman, in a letter of support for Fran’s Master Farm Homemaker nomination, says “I’ve known Fran Mueller for almost 40 years, serving as her pastor for 17 of those years. She is one of the most gifted and caring persons I’ve ever met.”

Helen Wieben - IMFH Class of 2018
Tama County
By Lynn Betts

Master Farm Homemaker: Although Helen Wieben is now retired and has moved to town, she remains a tireless volunteer in the community.

CIVIC-MINDED: Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Helen Wieben is still very active in the community of Dysart and is involved with the family farm.

Helen Wieben pitched in at the family farm in Tama County, Iowa, for years, raising three children, milking cows by hand, growing a big garden, catering meals, decorating cakes and helping with church activities. More recently, the 2018 Master Farm Homemaker has put just as much of her managerial skill and energy into community service for the town of Dysart.

Helen and husband Dennis grew corn, soybeans and oats on gently rolling land; fed cattle and hogs; and for eight years had a dairy operation on what would be recognized in 2009 as a Century Farm a few miles south of Dysart. “We always had a big garden, and I cooked and took hundreds of meals to the field,” Helen says.

SHE DOES IT: Helen Wieben uses a golf cart to get to her volunteer work at the city park in Dysart. She’s been very involved in building a new gazebo, in flower and tree plantings in the park, and beautification projects overall.

Milking routine
“When we milked cows in the 1950s, I did most of the evening milking: four to six Brown Swiss by hand. I remember the kids were small. I hung them in their car seats on the wall while I milked. It wasn’t the best, but it seemed like the only thing I could do to get the milking done and watch them at the same time.”

Such multitasking served Helen well as she kept the books (she knew where every penny went) and helped Dennis in all things on the farm. She also ran a cake decoration business for more than a decade, which led to a busy catering business she ran out of her home for 13 years.

“We’d cater for 20 to 300 people at a time, sometimes three meals a week,” Helen recalls. “There were a lot of weddings and anniversaries, and many Pioneer meetings. I had five ladies helping.”

At the same time, Helen was in the midst of teaching both Sunday school and Bible school at Zion Lutheran Church, which she did for more than 20 years. She attends adult Sunday school yet today and chairs a women’s group at the church. A member for 63 years, she sang in the choir, served as junior high choir director for eight years, and helped with church meals and fundraising events.

She’s still active, most recently helping make 15 gallons of ice cream in five freezers and helping serve a complete meal to 160 people to raise money for college scholarships for Zion Lutheran high school students.

Education a priority
“Growing up, we always had farm chores before and after school,” says daughter Michelle Bruce, “but homework was always the priority. Our family vacations were fun but had learning experiences tied in. We were always told that asking questions was a way to learn without books, and hands-on work experience was worth a lot.” 

Michelle is project coordinator at Karr Tuckpointing in Vinton, and brothers Michael and Mitchell are operating the family farm.

The learning-through-travel didn’t stop for Helen and Dennis once the children were grown. They started traveling internationally in 1980, with trips to Australia, Africa, New Zealand and Europe.

On one trip, they visited Yves Montoille, a foreign exchange student from France, whom they hosted for a year in their home. They also traveled to every state in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.

Helen still has a chance to help family members learn. She has seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, 11 step-great-grandchildren and three more on the way.

Put others first
Despite all that travel for fun, Helen and Dennis were constantly putting other people first as they volunteered in Dysart in many ways. After the couple retired from farming and moved to Dysart, Dennis served as mayor and board member for the bank and school board. Dennis and Helen helped organize the Dysart Historical Ag Museum and were the sole groundskeepers for years. Dennis was on the Dysart tree board and Helen was on the beautification committee.

Dennis passed away in 2013, but Helen has continued their legacy of community service. She continues to serve on the museum board, helps take care of the flowers and roses on the grounds, and volunteers as a tour guide at the museum. She’s volunteered at the Dysart Historical Society since its inception.

A member of the park board, Helen was instrumental in building a new gazebo in the park patterned after the original one. She helped start the gardens in the city park and continues to help maintain them. That’s in addition to maintaining her own gardens; her yard is one of the stops on garden tours and garden walks in town.

“I guess I couldn’t say no,” Helen says of her selfless giving to the community. A longtime active leader and member of the Dysart Women’s Club, Helen was named Woman of the Year in 2015. She and Dennis were named citizens of the year by the Lions Club as well, along with other honors.

Mary Ann Kunde - IMFH Class of 2018
Jackson County
By Lynn Betts

Bookkeeper, bill-payer, cook, human resources head, logistics coordinator, mental health coach, teacher, social coordinator, caring neighbor and parent, and community leader. That’s the short version the people nominating Mary Ann Kunde as a 2018 Master Farm Homemaker used to describe her contributions to her farm, family and community.

“She’s the glue that holds everything together,” says her husband, Gary. “She pays the bills and makes sure we’re all well fed, and she’ll drop everything to run for a part replacement, or to move equipment between farms. I don’t think people realize just how valuable that is in busy times on the farm.”

The Kundes raised three daughters — Bobbi, Sara and Stacey — on their 500-acre farm in Jackson County. They now operate 1,800 acres.

Mary Ann is most proud of the work she’s done to organize and carry out vacation Bible school for a week each year for about 40 children in the Andrew area.

She’s always recruiting people to help, especially to take on acting roles in the Bible story re-enactments she oversees.

“When I walk down the street, people see me coming and duck into doorways to hide,” Mary Ann jokes, “because they know I’m looking for volunteers for the skits. Gary even put on a wig and robe one year to play Moses. That was out of his comfort zone and it meant a lot to me that he would do that.”

Mary Ann’s girls often come back to help, too.

“It gives me a warm feeling when some of the kids will ask me when Bible school is going to be the next year,” Mary Ann says. “That says you might be making a difference.”
In that regard, Mary Ann and Gary made a difference in the life of a complete stranger when they hosted a foreign exchange student from Germany in 1995.

Together We Build
“Mary Ann and I first crossed paths years ago when I was a 4-H program assistant and she was supporting her daughters in 4-H,” says Judy Tonderum.

“She worked a number of years as a dispatcher in the county sheriff’s office, and learned to be calm, patient and precise. I believe that’s good in everyday living and helps her be a good leader in the community,” Tonderum says.

Tonderum serves with Mary Ann on a fundraising committee for the “Together We Build” campaign to build a new Extension Outreach building on the Jackson County fairgrounds.

“Mary Ann stepped forward to chair one of the first fundraisers,” Judy says. “She gathered friends and neighbors to make pie crusts and peel bushels of donated apples on several occasions, took orders from the general public, and organized pickup schedules for more than 460 pies that were sold to add a healthy sum to the building fund.”

“She’s a bundle of energy, a loving mother, grandmother and wife who is always ready to help others,” adds Wanda Cornelius, who has also worked on projects with Mary Ann.

Strong sense of community
Mary Ann is active in the Andrew Betterment Club and at Sacred Heart Church. She’s also served as the Richland Township secretary for more than 10 years and has managed the polls at elections for more than six years.

HELPING HAND: Mary Ann called on friends to help peel bushels of donated apples and make pie crusts, and then took orders and scheduled pickups for more than 460 ready-to-bake pies during the holiday season last year to raise money for a new Extension outreach center.Mary Ann volunteers at the Jackson County Fair, checking in open-class projects and helping the judge.
Last year, she was president of the Petal Pals Garden Club in Andrew. She’s a guest reader and craft planner at the Andrew library, and has occasionally been a guest reader at a preschool her daughter Sara owns and operates in Huxley.

Cottonville Farms legacy
Mary Ann is a sounding board for key decisions on the farm and has played a role in legacy planning for the next generation that will take over Cottonville Farms.

When Mary Ann’s three daughters indicated they wouldn’t be taking over the family farm, she and Gary sought out a young man who they could help give a start in farming.

The couple has been working with and mentoring Wes and Emily Hosch for the past 12 years, helping them prepare to carry forward the Cottonville Farm legacy. “Wes isn’t a hired man. He and Emily are our partners and are like family,” Mary Ann says. Wes and Emily share the feeling.

“Mary Ann is a very hardworking, honest, kind and caring woman, and I feel fortunate to know her and work beside her and Gary for the past 12 years,” Wes says. “We’re not related, but I feel like family.”

Mary Klaes - IMFH Class of 2018
Mitchell County
By Rod Swoboda

As a partner in the family farm, Mary Klaes does the financial record-keeping for their crop production and cattle feeding operation. She served as a 4-H leader for 13 years, has volunteered with the Osage FFA chapter the past 12 years and is a longtime community leader.

Married to husband Curt for 30 years, they raised five children, now successful young adults. Actively involved in their northern Iowa farm, Mary works side by side with Curt.

“I couldn’t do any of this community work if I didn’t have the support of my family,” Mary says. “I rely on them to cover my other responsibilities when I can’t, when I’m out and about with my activities. It’s all about teamwork; that’s for sure. As Curt says, it takes more than one person to hold the team together.”

For years Mary has been among the most visible proponents for development of young leaders and higher education in Mitchell County through her work as a 4-H leader and with Osage FFA. She has recruited and nurtured many students in her volunteer role and has shaped community leaders through these programs.

Volunteering takes commitment
Mary has taught students the importance of public speaking, leadership and community service. She encourages youth to be involved, shows them they are contributing members and gives them self-worth. Mary is committed and caring, says Darla Olson, director of Iowa State University Extension in Mitchell County.

“She’s out in front, not only in the way she has led, but in her ability to recruit other community members to serve in the role as mentors and teachers,” Olson says. “Mary is viewed as an extraordinary role model and an inspiration to others in the skill of ‘giving back.’ An outstanding farm professional, mentor, teacher and volunteer, she is a leader for our community.”

Mary and Curt’s oldest son, Joe, recently moved back to the area to farm. Joe, an ag engineering graduate, and wife Laura have twin 3-year-old daughters.

Mary and Curt have three daughters. Elizabeth is an editor for Our Iowa magazine in Ames; Katie is a grain marketer for Cargill in Ohio; and Laura is a sales trainee for AgReliant Genetics in Ames.

Their youngest child, Matthew, is a student at Iowa State University, earning a degree in chemistry. Their older children all graduated from ISU. Mary and Curt are graduates of Loras College in Dubuque.

Giving back to community
Other organizations and activities Mary is involved in include teaching religious education classes to students at church; she’s taught these classes for 20-plus years. Mary also assists with child care for young parents who attend monthly MOPS (Mothers of Preschool) meetings, to enable young moms to enjoy some fellowship and grow in their parenting skills.

Lisa Peterson, one of the people nominating Mary for the 2018 Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Award, has worked with Mary in MOPS, the Osage FFA Chapter and Senior Interview Day. She helped Mary coach the FFA Ag Sales Team to a state championship.

“An outsider to the ag program could have easily mistaken Mary for the ag instructor,” Peterson says. “Mary has coached and coordinated multiple individuals and teams at the sub-district and state levels.”

While working with high school students, Mary recognized many had never filled out a job application or practiced interviewing for a job. Mary took it upon herself to fix the problem, and Senior Interview Day was developed.

MENTOR: Mary Klaes, who enjoys working with youth, helps students run the FFA food stand at Mitchell County Fair. With Mary are Ashley Hanson (center), parent of an FFA student, and Michelle Wright, a recent graduate of Osage FFA.Coordinating with school administrators, she organized a morning for every senior to go through a “practice” interview for a job within their field of interest. She brought in community leaders and local businesspeople as interviewers. It was an eye-opener for many of the students.

Providing opportunities
“We’ve done this for two years now,” Mary says. “It’s been a successful learning experience.” Students learn how to present themselves in an interview, how to write a resume, cover letter, things to avoid. They learn how to dress: what business casual and business professional mean. Each student participates in a mock interview.

“Mary is a consummate professional and gets the job done,” Peterson says. “I’m still surprised at all the places in the community I run into Mary, especially now that her last child has graduated high school. Yet, Mary still attends graduation, sports events, choral events, etc. Shortly after those events, she will typically post photos to her Facebook page for parents and others to see and download. Mary is a freelance photographer for our local newspaper and contributes photos to Our Iowa magazine.”

Mary is not the type of person who is looking for accolades or awards; “she just has a humble heart of service,” Peterson says. “This year, the Osage FFA Chapter created and awarded the FFA Mary Klaes Award. The award honors people who have helped the chapter reach its greatest potential. Rightfully, she was the first recipient of the award. The world needs more Marys. It is my pleasure to highly recommend Mary for the Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Award.”

Cristen Clark - IMFH Class of 2017
Polk County
By Rod Swoboda

Cristen Clark has several qualities that draw people to her. One that shines proudly is the passion she has for her family and farm.

At the heart of the family is their farm — actually, two farms. Cristen helps her dad, mom and sister farm cropland where Cristen grew up near Prairie City in central Iowa, and Cristen and husband Mike raise pigs on their own farm nearby at Runnells.

Cristen and Mike have a small seedstock herd of 25 sows farrow to finish. These are purebred sows  — Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire.

They also sell pigs for 4-H and FFA projects. The Clarks enter local and national livestock shows, including the Iowa State Fair. They also have a commercial hog feeding operation.

At the 2017 Iowa State Fair, daughter Halle won the Grand Champion Hampshire Gilt blue ribbon and son Barrett won Grand Champion Duroc Gilt honors.

Cristen is hands-on with farm work, assisting where needed during planting season. In the fall, she hauls grain from the fields as her father, Rodger Slings, harvests corn and soybeans. Cristen works with the sows and pigs daily.

Mike and Cristen involve their two children, Halle and Barrett, on the farm. It’s a lifestyle and learning experience Cristen grew up with and is eager to share with her kids. Halle is in third grade; Barrett is in kindergarten. “There is no better place for them to learn about life than on the farm,” says Cristen.

Advocating for agriculture
Cristen works from her home part time, doing public relations consulting and advocating for agriculture. Her clients have included the Iowa Food and Family Project, Anderson-Erickson Dairy, Iowa Pork Producers Asso-ciation, Iowa Egg Council and Iowa Soybean Association.

Cristen created her popular blog, foodandswine.com, in 2014. It allows her to speak on behalf of production agriculture, and she has a lot of followers.

She ties in her love of cooking, family and agriculture as she weaves farm stories into recipe posts. Writing about food, she attracts readers and shares a story with them about farm life, helping build public trust in today’s agriculture. She listens to people’s concerns and beliefs about the food they eat, and the animals and crops farmers raise. She takes time to thoughtfully answer questions.

“People like to know where their food comes from,” says Cristen. “I explain how it is raised and why we do it this way. There is a lot of criticism of modern production agriculture, especially on social media. People who are against how we farm and raise livestock often use fear and scare tactics to attack farmers.

“It was not my goal to be an outspoken crusader for modern agriculture, but rather a resource for people to access when they have questions about food and farming,” she says.

When Cristen isn’t doing chores or taking care of her family, she likes to cook and bake. She spends time testing recipes. Before starting her blog, she entered and won cooking and baking contests for several years. “I began the blog to write about food, as people were asking me about my recipes,” she says. “They must have seen my name on the food and baked goods I entered in the Iowa State Fair and other contests, and when I won I got a lot of requests. I’d handwrite the cinnamon roll and biscuit recipes for people, which took time, so I began the blog.”

Upon winning contests, Cristen sometimes received the Iowa Master Farm Homemaker cookbook as part of the prize. She has also judged food entries at the Iowa State Fair.

Cristen says she learned how to cook from her mom, Ceil Slings. “She should be getting the Master Farm Homemaker Award. I learned everything from her. She’s wonderful, strong, takes care of things;  a very loving person.”

Balancing farm, family life
Cristen and Mike have a busy household. Cristen runs the home planner and ensures religious education, choir, sports and other activities of their children are handled. Nightly reading is a constant, as is observing Halle doing homework on the computer. Cristen volunteers at her children’s school, helping with fundraisers. She coaches Halle’s softball and basketball teams.

Between flexible schedules and a commitment to assist where needed, the Clarks handle it. Both sets of grandparents live nearby, and sisters of Mike and Cristen also help. The family enjoys fishing at their pond and family time with cousins.

When time allows, Cristen speaks at advocacy programs in support of agriculture — in Iowa and out of state. She recently addressed the Illinois Farm Bureau, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, and the Mason City Chamber of Commerce.

“If you read her writing on foodandswine.com or listen to her public speaking, you see immediately why she deserves this award,” says Claire Masker, who helped nominate Cristen.

Katie Olthoff - IMFH Class of 2017
Hamilton County

AG RESOURCE: “My Family’s Dairy Farm” is the ninth in a series by Katie Olthoff, Iowa children’s book author. Olthoff writes the books for the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation to provide nonfiction, ag-based resources to schools. Tyler Harris
A new nonfiction book by children’s author Katie Olthoff tells the story of raising cows and producing milk on an Iowa farm. “My Family’s Dairy Farm” is available by request free for students and teachers from the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.

The story follows Lucas, an 8-year-old boy in Iowa who helps on his family’s dairy farm. Lucas takes readers on a tour of the farm and discusses how his family cares for the cows, which produce milk that is made into cheese and other dairy products. He discusses the quality care the cows receive and other aspects of sustainability that the farm practices. The book is written at a third grade reading level and has supplemental text that gives additional background information for more advanced readers.

The book is the ninth in a series by Olthoff, a former teacher who understands the importance of having high-quality, relevant nonfiction books for students. Iowa Core educational standards require that up to 50% of student reading be informational or nonfiction. Olthoff writes the books for the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation to provide nonfiction, ag-based resources to schools.

Importance of dairy
“Milk is the third-largest beverage category. Dairy production is important and essential to the food supply,” says Will Fett, IALF executive director. “’My Family’s Dairy Farm’ offers the opportunity to teach about how cows are cared for and how milk can be used for a variety of dairy products, including cheese, yogurt, ice cream and so much more. We can also discuss important topics like sustainability and protecting natural resources.”

Olthoff lives on a working turkey farm in central Iowa with her husband and family. Her first book detailed how turkeys were raised on their family farm. She currently works for ChopLocal as director of communications. She is active in the agriculture community in Iowa and beyond as a volunteer for Common Ground, a national network of farm women who share information on food and farming with consumers across the country. She has experience teaching and communicating about agriculture with her blog.

Health and technology
The book features the technology used on dairy farms to track production and health of cows. It explains the feed rations that create a healthy diet for cows. It explains how milk is collected, tested and then transported to the processor to become cheese.

“Understanding where milk and dairy products come from is important,” says Jenna Finch of Midwest Dairy. “This book will help students connect the dots between the high-quality care the cows receive and the tasty dairy product that they get to enjoy.”

Copies of the book are being made available to all Iowa elementary schools and additional copies are available on request. The book is a special project of IALF with financial support from Midwest Dairy. The book also has two lesson plan companion resources to help teachers integrate the book into a science or social studies lesson. The lesson plans are aligned with Iowa Core standards and easily fit into an approved course of study.

For more information about the book or other education resources, contact IALF at info@iowaagliteracy.org.

Kelly Keitzer - IMFH Class of 2017
Des Moines County
By Lynn Betts

What started as 4-H projects for their girls about 15 years ago soon became a part of everyday life for Kelly Keitzer, husband Bryan and their three daughters. An initial 10 ewes grew to a flock of 150, and showing lambs evolved to selling lambs to 4-H and FFA members eager to take high honors at county and state fairs and on the lamb show circuit.

“Our farming operation has been primarily corn and soybeans, and feeding hogs,” Kelly says. “But we wanted our girls to have the experience of raising livestock in 4-H. You think about bucket-bottle calves, but cattle get too big too soon, so we thought lambs would be a better option.”

Kelly grew up in Mediapolis and was never in 4-H as a girl, but she didn’t hesitate to jump in as a 4-H leader even before her girls got involved. Leadership in 4-H is something many of the women named Iowa Master Farm Homemakers have in common, including two of the four women being honored this year.

“We bought our first 10 ewes in 2003 from Perry and Lori Middlesworth at Fremont and are still working with them today,” Kelly says. “All three of our girls — Tayler, Kaci and Savannah — showed lambs. We didn’t know what we were getting into when we started, but we’ve been lucky. The Middlesworths have been great mentors to us.”

The Keitzers sell show lambs to other exhibitors, as well as produce market lambs. The family has about 200 lambs by June each year.

“It takes a good crew, especially in lambing season when we can have 25 to 30 ewes giving birth in a four- to five-day span,” Kelly says. “We have a remote camera and keep watch with our phones. I alert Bryan if there’s trouble, but I’ve pulled my share of lambs, dozens over the years. All the girls have, too; they’re not girly-girls.”

Kelly helps with the marking of sheep, as sometimes temporary identification is needed. She also helps with vaccinating, feeding and other chores. “I’m out there at least twice a day during lambing,” she says. Kelly keeps all the records for the flock, using a spreadsheet for financial records and an app on her phone called Herd Boss to keep the history on every animal.

The bulk of the lambs go to market at Kalona, but the bigger money comes from the two dozen or so lambs they sell as show lambs each year.

As they phase out of the lamb business, the Keitzers’ goal is to transition it to any of the girls who are interested. Kelly served on county fair committees for 4-H in Des Moines County, and Bryan served on the 4-H sheep committee for many years.

Linda Newberry - IMFH Class of 2017
Lee County
By Lynn Betts        

Linda Newberry has been the bookkeeper for the family farm from day one. “I had budgeted my own money and kept a book for my own finances before Steve and I were married in 1970,” Linda says, “so it just made sense to us for me to keep the farm books, too.”

That included keeping all the records for a Pioneer seed corn dealership she and Steve ran for 43 years. They’ve now given the seed corn business up, but Linda still keeps the farm books. “Now I use Quicken for our records,” Linda says. “Using a computer to keep records is so much nicer than the old way by hand.”

But the 2017 Master Farm Homemaker did much more than keep books: She was the face of the business, sitting behind the desk, answering the phone, and taking and filling orders while Steve planted their own corn. The couple grows corn and soybeans on about 2,000 acres and runs a cow-calf operation near Argyle in Lee County in southeast Iowa.

Family seed business
“In our early days, we had a party line. The phone would ring at the office and to our home phone,” Linda explains. “I was only half a mile away from where the seed was stored, so I could usually get there in time to meet a customer and fill his order. We later moved everything here.”

“Linda’s bookkeeping and budgeting skills helped keep us accountable,” Steve says. “She made sure we were making good decisions monetarily. She also did what was necessary to help make ends meet when she worked off the farm in tough times.” Linda worked full time in town during the farm crisis of the 1980s, and worked at the Farm Service Agency during the drought of 1988. She also ran a scale off and on for five years, weighing trucks at a nearby quarry.

On prison duty
When hog prices were going down in the early 1990s, Linda took a job as a correctional officer at the state penitentiary in Fort Madison.

“We had just bought out Steve’s dad, Dale, so we were strapped financially. I had submitted an application for the job years before I got the job offer. It had been kept on file and it just happened that they had the job opening at that time. I thought it was just meant to be for me to have that job,” Linda says.

“I didn’t mind the work, and it was a good paycheck. I delivered meds to the inmates, and worked the yard and cell houses for five years,” she says. “You were always on your guard, but most of the time if you treated the prisoners all the same and respected them, they respected you. You could be nice, but don’t be their friend.”

‘Pray hard’
Linda came from an all-girl family, but she and Steve raised four boys. One of the four sons, Jason, farms with them. Joshua, who lives near Argyle, owns and operates a landscape business. James is a regional sales manager for a seed company in the Pacific Northwest.

“Mom has always told us to pray hard, and to change the world globally by changing the world locally,” James says. Steve and Linda’s youngest son, Jacob, works as a missionary in Africa. Linda and Steve have 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Serving as membership chair, Linda was on the local board of the Iowa Farm Bureau for two years. She started a Camp Fire Girls group, but found 4-H worked better than scouts in the country.

“So I started a 4-H club in 1971 we called Corn Country Cousins, and led that club for about 20 years,” Linda says.

She also volunteered with the Handy Helpers 4-H Club when her sons were young members.

Devoted teacher of youth
Linda was a Sunday school teacher for 40 years and taught Bible school for many years. She and Steve attend Cowboy Country Church in Wayland on Tuesdays and Cornerstone Church in Keokuk on Sundays.

Last year, Linda experienced something few Iowans have: She was baptized in the Jordan River while she was on a trip to Israel with her church group.

Linda’s international experience was also enriched with a trip to Africa with Steve to see their son Jacob be married. Worldly experience came to Linda in two separate years when she and Steve hosted foreign exchange students in their home through FFA.

A student named Bjorn visited from Germany and a second, Karill, visited from Ukraine. The Newberrys also hosted high school students from the city, so they could experience life on the farm.

More recently, Linda taught preschool for a year, where three of her grandchildren were in the class. Just last year, Linda was recognized by the Iowa secretary of state for serving 24 years, the longest of any precinct election official in Lee County.

Harva Paul - IMFH Class of 2016
Mills County
By Rob Swoboda

Harva Paul—A world view from an Iowa farm. Harva and James Paul and their children have opened their home and their hearts over the past 25 years to 24 foreign exchange students growing up in cities in 19 countries around the world.

“We were their parents when they were with us,” Harva says. “They call us Mom and Dad—in some cases, I am ‘Mum.’ If someone asked me, I think I could name all 24. They think of the United States as New York City or California, and are surprised when they get to an 850-acre corn and soybean farm in Iowa instead. But they appreciate the open spaces.” The Pauls farm near Hastings in southwest Iowa.

The Paul’s extended family members are treated to plenty of homegrown fruits and vegetables. Harva tends several large garden plots, a large strawberry patch, a small orchard with several apple and cherry trees, grape vines, and multiple flowerbeds over the farmstead. She’s very generous with her produce, donating hundreds of dollars’ worth each year to the church bazaar and local food bank.

Harva has served as an assistant 4-H leader for more than 20 years. All three of her children were also very active. Harva gave time to the school, too—the annual school carnival she started over 20 years ago is still running today. Harva has served the Strahan United Methodist Church in many ways. She’s been the church’s pianist for 28 years, serves as director of both the junior and adult choirs, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and was youth leader for over 10 years. She’s organized events each year to raise money for church missions.

Harva spent a year in Japan as an international studies major in college, and the couple’s children—Brooke, Nathan and Brenna—lived abroad at some point in high school. Harva works full time at the Green Hills Area Education Agency in Glenwood, and has been a school psychologist for 27 years.

Jenni Peters - IMFH Class of 2016
Jackson County
By Rob Swoboda

Jenni Peters—It’s about family, farming and faith. Jenni Peters is a full partner with her husband Charlie on the family farm near Bellevue, not far from the Mississippi River in Jackson County in eastern Iowa. She helps feed and care for cattle, does fieldwork and is involved in the Peters Beef Genetics bred heifer program. She handles recordkeeping and marketing for a 300-head cow-calf herd that produces 250 Angus-Simmental bred heifers a year. She also helps with transport, ultrasounds, feeding and cattle monitoring.

Jenni and Charlie’s four children—Matthias, Michael, Sam and Miranda—are in college or in high school. Matthias and Michael attend Iowa State University, both of them are majoring in animal science. Sam and Miranda attend Marquette Catholic High School in Bellevue. Jenni has a degree in ag business from Kansas State University. She has emphasized to her children that education is important to be successful in life and they must learn about the world around them.

The Peters provide internships on the farm for ag students from Muscatine and Kirkwood Community Colleges. A Kansas farm girl, Jenni met Charlie while he was completing graduate work in cattle reproduction and nutrition at Kansas State University. Jenni serves on the Iowa Beef Industry Council board of directors. She helped plan a recent Women in Ag conference and has been a speaker at similar conferences. Her presentations highlight the importance of women’s roles as partners in a farming operation and balancing family obligations.

Jenni and Charlie have hosted ISU Extension pasture walks to promote land stewardship and efficient cattle production. Jenni was recently selected as one of ISU Extension’s first eight recipients of the “Women Impacting the Land” honor. Jenni and Charlie continue to serve their local school district on committees and in other ways. She was a 4-H and youth committee member, and was an associate member of the Jackson County Fair Board. Jenni is an Andrew Achievers 4-H Leader. Active in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Parish Council, Jenni serves on the Faith and Formation Committee.

Lori Heemstra - IMFH Class of 2016
O’Brien County
By Rod Swoboda

Lori Heemstra—Core value is helping others. Whether it’s vaccinating pigs, hauling grain, raising a family, leading a 4-H club, starting a Kid’s Bible Club or volunteering for a church mission to Haiti, Lori Heemstra has always believed in people helping each other. Lori is a farming partner with husband Dennis in a 720-acre corn, soybean and hog operation at Primghar in northwest Iowa. She’s a proud mother of three, active community supporter, eager volunteer, and a person who continues to help build a better community.

Lori helps process and vaccinate pigs, hauls grain at harvest to elevators at Hartley and Sutherland, and is the farm’s bookkeeper. Lori splits her farm work with gardening time, community service and part-time substitute education help at local schools. Two children, Nathan and Jenna, are grown. Nathan is in Cedar Rapids, recently married; Jenna is a sophomore in college; Jillian is a freshman at South O’Brien High School.

All three of Lori’s children joined 4-H as soon as eligible. She’s served the past three years as an adult volunteer and leader of the Center Farmers 4-H Club. Each Wednesday after school from September through April, Lori leads the music for a K-8 Kids Club she and Dennis organized 10 years ago. She helps with Sunday school, Bible school and sings in the church choir.

Each spring, Lori has helped the South O’Brien High School dinner theater director; she’s served on the Community Playhouse board in Primghar and acted in and directed musicals there. Music has been a part of Lori’s life as long as she can remember. Lori’s community activities include serving six years on the Farm Bureau board. She was the first woman to be elected state chair of the young farmers committee of Iowa Farm Bureau. “Lori is always willing to lend a helping hand. We are very fortunate to have Lori in our community,” says friend Betty Uittenbogaard.

Mary Lou Johnson - IMFH Class of 2016
Jackson County
By Rob Swoboda

Mary Lou Johnson—Guiding the family on the farm. As Mary Lou and Larry Johnson’s close-knit family has grown over the years, so has their farming operation in Jackson County in eastern Iowa. Their three grown children chose to come back and work with their parents on the family farm near Maquoketa, growing about 3,900 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa, running a 450-head cow-calf operation, and feeding and finishing about 10,000 head of cattle a year.

The operation supports the four Johnson families, including four grandchildren and two full-time hired employees. Mary Lou and Larry’s son Joe and wife Jaymee are part owners, as are son James and wife Ashley. Mary Lou and Larry’s daughter Janell is employed by Johnson Family Farms and has a seed dealership. Her fiancé, Mike Slattery, is a veterinarian.

Mary Lou does the bookkeeping. She prepares lunch daily for seven people working on the farm, assists with farm chores, operates a tractor when needed, and often makes trips to town for parts. Mary Lou is active in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. She serves on the Jackson County Extension Council and was a 4-H leader for 15 years. She has served on the county 4-H food stand committee for many years and is still a judge for Jackson County Clover Kids. She serves on the Jackson County Fair Association board and has been a Master Gardener for 10 years.

Mary Lou has co-chaired the county fair queen contest and coordinated the Jackson County Cattlemen Youth Beef Team, and has taught religious education at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston. “Mary Lou has always been an inspiration to everyone around her,” wrote sister-in-law Nancy Johnson in a letter of support for Mary Lou’s nomination. “If something needs to be done, she is one of the first to volunteer to help.”

Chris Cornelius - IMFH Class of 2015
Jackson County

Combining family duties with church, community commitments and her role in helping manage a farming operation and family-owned seed company is no small task.  Chris Cornelius has accomplished that and more.  She is described as “an excellent role model for girls and young women in our community in all she does.”

Chris and husband Chuck raised two sons, who along with their wives are now involved with the farming and seed corn business at Andrew (near Bellevue) in Jackson County.  The boys graduated from Iowa State University.  Chris works in the seed business daily answering phone calls, servicing customers and assisting with marketing.  Cornelius Seed was founded 80 years ago by Chuck’s great-grandfather and grandfather. 

Serving her community in many ways, Chris is considered detailed, energetic, dependable and a great asset to her family.  Helping with daily activities of raising crops and livestock, Chris has also worked in the company’s corn breeding nursery for 27 years hand-pollinating corn.  

Supporting Chris’ nomination for the Master Farm Homemaker Award, Wanda Cornelius, her mother-in-law, tells how Chris and Chuck restored a one-room schoolhouse.  Chuck’s father and uncle attended that school.  Now students from local schools visit the historic schoolhouse and tour the Cornelius Seed plant and farm, learning about agriculture.

As chairwoman of the Jackson County Conservation Board and a member of Friends of Jackson County Conservation, Chris is involved with conservation and outdoor recreation projects in the county.  

The family’s farming operation is conservation oriented, with corn and soybeans on the contour, grass waterways, buffers, terraces, no-till and other soil saving practices.  

They run a 300 head cow-calf herd for the conservation benefits of raising cattle on hilly land.  Hay is in the rotation; they maintain permanent pastures; and calves are fed out on the farm.  “Taking care of natural resources has always been important to our family,” she says. 

Active in 4-H growing up, Chris developed leadership skills and honed them volunteering in her local community as an adult.  Chris was a 4-H leader and is an avid photographer.  She’s taught many young people those skills and served as a photography judge.  Chuck and Chris met through 4-H as seniors in high school.

Chuck and Chris began the Little Hawk basketball tournament for boys and girls 17 years ago.  Today, the annual event is managed by sons Will and J.C.; proceeds from the tournament support Andrew Community School youth programs.  

Farm safety is a topic dear to Chris, who severely injured her hand harvesting corn in 1996.  She gives farm safety talks to young schoolchildren, working with FFA chapters and other groups.  An active member of Salem Lutheran Church in Andrew, she serves on the church council. 

Lucille Van Dyke - IMFH Class of 2015
Poweshiek County

Lucille Van Dyke starts every summer morning on her farm at the north edge of Grinnell tending her chicken flock, working in her vegetable garden, and picking any ripe raspberries, grapes or apples to preserve for the winter.  Lucille also takes care of the laying hens and sells eggs to local families.  Pretty amazing feats, considering she will be 94 years old in December!

Lucille operates her 60 acre farm with her son, Donald, and her daughter, Sharon.  Don’s daughter Jessica rounds out the tight-knit family team.  They grow grain, chickens and horses; 4-H kids and students at Grinnell College board their horses and enjoy the Van Dyke indoor riding arena.  

Lucille and her late husband, Jake, purchased the farm in 1955. Lucille made a big noon meal every day for the family and any other workers lucky enough to enjoy her delicious meals.  “Mom still cooks a huge Sunday dinner for our family and makes enough for threshers,” says Sharon.  

Lucille grew up on a farm near Searsboro and took “normal” training at William Penn College to become a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse for three years. Her teaching career ended in 1943 when Lucille married Jake Van Dyke.  They rented a small farm with no electricity or indoor bathroom, where they farmed with horses and milked cows by hand for 12 years until they bought the Grinnell farm she lives on today. 

Lucille has always given back to her community; she’s served as a leader and judge for Poweshiek County 4-H for more than 50 years.  

Lucille’s working farm has hosted young people through 4-H programs, and Grinnell College students from around the world. 

Lucille is very active in the Newburg-Chester Congregational Church.  She’s a church representative to the Church Women United of Grinnell, packs shoeboxes for needy children in other countries, and makes stuffed animals and neck pillows for the local hospital.  

Mari Lynn Heineman - IMFH Class of 2015
Boone County

At the Heineman farmstead near Ogden in central Iowa, Mari Lynn Heineman efficiency juggles all the bookkeeping for the family farm, takes care of their beautiful farm home, cooks noon meals for her husband and three sons, and still finds time to serve the community.

Mari Lynn and her husband, Paul, are part of a 4,500 acre crop operation that’s been in the Heineman family for five generations.  Their partners include twin sons, Andrew and Marcus, Paul’s brother Craig and his wife, Martha, and their son, Brett.  Paul’s father John, at 91, still helps at the farm daily and youngest son Grant may choose to join the partnership when he graduates from ISU.  

“The bookkeeping takes about 15 hours a week.  As the farm grows, it requires additional records for more employees, payroll and all the forms required,” explains Mari Lynn.  

She grew up on a crop and livestock operation south of Stanhope that the partnership now farms for her parents.  After graduation from the University of Iowa in marketing, she worked for a trucking company, was a marketing officer at a bank in Boone and then became a national bank examiner.  

Mari Lynn’s face lights up as she talks about her family.  She considers raising her sons as her greatest achievement, and is excited to see them give back to the community as she and Paul have.  For the past 10 years, she has served as treasurer for Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden.  For 15 years, she has also been a member of the church’s preschool board, serving as president and treasurer. 

Mari Lynn led efforts to found the self-supported ELM Street Preschool (Educating Little Miracles), which has earned the state’s highest rating.  

Mari Lynn helped grow the Westside Hustlers 4-H club to 49 members as its co-leader and treasurer.  In 2013 she received the Fran Thompson Memorial Outstanding Leader Award in Boone County.

Nancy Johnson - IMFH Class of 2015
Jackson County

As a farmwife and partner with husband Lester in their cattle and crop operation, and an active volunteer in her community, Nancy Johnson wears many hats.  

This summer found Nancy at a time of transition in life with a career change.  For years she worked as a fourth-generation member of the Cornelius family seed business. Founded by her great-grandfather and grandfather in 1935, the Cornelius Seed Co. is located up the road from her home.  When her children were younger, Nancy worked part time as its bookkeeper.  In recent years she worked full time for the seed company. 

This fall Nancy started teaching family and consumer sciences full time at Maquoketa High School.  She and Lester later this year will become first time grandparents.  Now she’s received the Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Award, as her mother, Wanda Cornelius, did in 1982.  

“I loved those years working with our family in the seed business,” says Nancy.  “But teaching full-time is something I always wanted to do.  When the position opened at Maquoketa, I decided to apply.”

As a warmup, Nancy volunteered and taught yoga the past few years at the YMCA, sharing her enthusiasm and telling others how the activity has improved her life.  An Iowa State University graduate, Nancy taught family and consumer science from 1986 through 1989 to high school students.  When daughter, Megan, was born, Nancy quit teaching and began working part time at the seed business.

Nancy has been involved in the Jackson County Extension 4-H program since she was a member herself as a young girl and has continued to give back. 

Nancy and Lester raised two children who participated in 4-H projects.  Nancy has served on the Jackson County Extension Council, helped with the Andrew Achievers 4-H club and judged at county fairs.  She received the Charles Butterworth Young Leader Award.  Nancy’s family and her husband’s family have both been selected as the Better Sieverding Family of the Year in Jackson County.

“Nancy has been a volunteer we can always count on when we need a helping hand.  Her dedication for 4-H shines through when she works with youth and volunteers,” says Amber Matthiesen, 4-H youth specialist in Jackson County.

“Nancy has been a key to the success of Jackson County Extension and 4-H.” The family attends church together; Nancy is treasurer of the Salem Lutheran Church Council.  She served as organist, as did her father.  She served on the YMCA advisory board and chaired the community Foundation of Jackson County.  

When her kids were in 4-H, the group was her favorite community activity, and she taught 4-Hers to sew.  For five summers, the Coneliuses hosted exchange students in the Communicating for Agriculture program.  Nancy also served on ISU’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Advisory Board.  

The Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization that helps fund needed programs in Jackson County.  “We have an active board,” says Nancy, “FUnding projects like park improvements, a grade-level reading program though our local schools and other local initiatives.” 

Son Tim farms with Nancy and Lester and owns and operates Tim Johnson Cattle Co., a registered Reg Angus herd.  Daughter Megan Kilburg is married and works for Monsanto at Williamsburg.  Megan, Tim and son-in-law Andrew Kilburg are ISU graduates, as is Nancy.  The Johnsons have a young farm employee helping them, Kendall Steines, an ISU student.  “He’s pretty much a part of our family,” says Nancy.  

In a letter supporting their mother’s nomination for the Master Farm Homemaker Award, Megan and Tim wrote, “Our mom instilled in us very important life qualities, such as working hard, and being compassionate, selfless and understanding of others.  Shes been our Number One supporter throughout our lives.  She always encouraged us to be the best we could be. We aren’t sure how she did it all when we were younger or how she does it now, but she has supper on the table and is always willing to do what is needed for our family and our farming operation.”