Privilege to Farm
Home Up Field to Family Update Cuba Trip Footprints: Drainage IA Women's Hall Privilege to Farm

 

Privilege to Farm

Denise O’Brien

Upon being informed of my induction to the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, I have been reflecting over the years of my farmer/activist/parent/spouse “career.” First and foremost, I feel that my time as a farmer has been a time of privilege. Sure, it’s hard to get bills paid when prices are low. It’s hard to keep an optimistic outlook when hail has just destroyed your crop. But the fact that my husband Larry Harris and I have been able to raise our children together as two full time parents, has given me great joy. Our children are now adults and are finding their way in the world with the confidence and skills they learned working side by side with their parents. The working included farm work mainly, but it also included going to the capitol in Des Moines to attend a rally or a protest. It included volunteering in the community at the domestic violence shelter or the food pantry. It takes work to be a citizen of a community and Larry and I feel confident that we have taught our children to participate in and work in the larger community of humanity.

I must say that it is unfair that only my name will appear on the plaque that will be awarded during the induction ceremony because it was all of my family that made it possible for me to achieve this honor. Larry’s commitment to farm and family while I traipsed off to all parts of the world. The commitment of my daughters and my son to helping their father while I was gone. The commitment of my mother-in-law and father-in-law to filling in when needed. The commitment of my father and siblings to checking in during my absences. All of these people deserve to have recognition for the role they played on my journey to leadership.