Dorothy is correct when she says Marilyn is involved in many things. She gardens, writes poetry, cooks and works as a child support specialist at Grant Wood Area Education Association (GWAEA).

Marilyn says her garden is her therapy and where she goes to enjoy nature.

‘I gave up on the perfect garden years ago when I realized it had to be shared with animals,” Marilyn explains.

She is particularly fond of her herb garden and uses fresh herbs frequently in her day-to-day life. One of her favorite uses for the herbs is in tea.

“I like everything about foods. I like to grow food, prepare food and preserve food,” she says, adding that she does less preserving since her and Dan’s three children are no longer at home.

Marilyn has published a book of poetry called Crystal and Clay, which includes poems about her children, siblings and her feelings about Dan being sent to Viet Nam soon after the couple was married 37 years ago.

The second part of her job is outreach to young families.

“I offer education and activities to promote early literacy and good nutrition,” she adds. “Donna Matthews and I work as a team on providing workshops to childcare providers and other groups.”

Community service is an important component when an Iowa master Farm homemaker is chosen.
Marilyn has worked with 4h as a leader, judges 4H entries at county fairs, hosted an exchange student and worked ass a Sunday School teacher at the First United Congregational Church of Christ in Anamosa.

“I’m currently a deacon at the UCC,” she reveals.

Marilyn and Dan attended a reception and award luncheon on August 31 and September 1, where Marilyn received a certificate. the event was sponsored by Wallaces Farmer and the Iowa Farm Homemaker’s guild. At the luncheon recipients were asked to give a presentation about themselves.

Marilyn says that being a homemaker is not something that you learn it’s your life.

“I have this quilt made by my great grandmother. I see my life like this quilt, it’s a collection of people, places and experiences. The common thread connecting all the pieces is a commitment to preserve and strenghten the family structure,” she says.

Marilyn and Dan farmed on a family farm in rural Martelle for 25 years. A few years ago they turned the farm over to their son Shaun and his wife Valerie. The couple farm this land as well as several others. While farming they raised corn, beans, winter wheat, alfalfa and hogs

“Two knee replacements made farming difficult for Dan,” Marilyn adds, and says Shaun is the fourth generation in Dan’s family to farm the land and the sixth generation to farm her family’s land.

Marilyn and Dan also have twins, Tim, who is a counselor at Mercy hospital in Des Moines, and Emily, an Art professor at tulane University.

The couple has one granson, Ivan, who belongs to Shaun and Valerie and tim and wife Betsy have twin boys on the way.

Marilyn said that although her family was always busy, they always ate dinner together and always went to church together as a family.

“We always felt it was important to sit around the table together, talk and find out what was going on with eveyone,” Marilyn says, and adds that she felt blessed toraise her family in the country with astrong work ethic.

Dorthy says that when she and Esther were thinking of candidates, many were qualified, but Marilyn stood out.

“I wanted everone to know how wonderful she is and I think this is a great organization,” Dorothy includes.

“i’m very, very honored, that’s a very accomplished group of women,” Marilyn concludes.