Iowa Farm Girls

These ladies are setting a standard that will establish a title -"Iowa Farm Girl".
That will stand for courage under duress, stamina in deprivation, generosity in lean times, self-restraint, honor in the face of ingratitude and ability to take the lead and know when to follow.

Iowa Farm Girls can be wise or wiseachers, as necessary. They can be independent in all things. The hard man-work is no hindrance to getting the job done. It has always been so.

Iowa Farm Girls start when they can walk; scooping a hole with an old teaspoon, drop in the seeds and on to the next; reaching under ol' mother hen taking the eggs and carrying them in; tossing the grain to all the rest, replacing some hay for the nests.

Roosters will fly at them with their spurs and the girls learn not to be deterred. Boars and rams will threatened and charge, dad will teach how to defend her.

As she grows and mom gives what she knows for milking, canning, cleaning the fowl
Dad will teach driving, maintaining mechinery and all
Tools she handles will be both culinary and carpentry
Iowa Farm Girls do it all with artistry.

These concepts may be long past,
But I venture to say
Whatever the challenges offered today
The result is the same--

Iowa Farm Girls take up the gauntlet
Pay no mind to 'gender'
Do what needs to be done, say what needs to be said
Manage, supervise, teach the unteachable
Fly the plane, drive the truck, or make the bed.

Taking the reins in every sense of the word
Whining will not be heard
Standing firm for principle and morals
Won't argue over the title of 'girls'.

For what they were--they will always be
Strong, determined, courageus and free
Their mothers, grandmas and aunts
Were the models who taught them the dance

Taking turns leading and holding back
Ready to step up to fend off attack
Ready to give care to neighbor and friend
Ready to serve a country and defend

Do not take for granted too long these gems
Do not overlook their contribution
They will not speak up too loudly for themselves
But they will not be ignored on some shelf.

Honor the WASP, the WAC and the WAVE
The service, the sacrifices they gave
They came from all around the nation
To defend the flag we unfurled

Rise up these humble souls
These beautiful, generous,
Iowa Farm Girls