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.

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. 

Betts writes from Johnston.