The Iowa Master Farm Homemakers Guild continues to help others in their communities, churches and multiple other local, state and national organizations. This group seeks applicants for the 2022 IMFH awards.

Each year, applicants are sought for this award, honoring women who are involved with farm and family responsibilities and involved in their communities. The nomination forms should be filled out immediately and can be found at the website, iowamasterfarmhomemaker.org.

Helping others

The group voted to establish a new Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Scholarship of $500 to be given annually to an Iowa high school senior girl who shares the values of the organization through education, lifelong learning and volunteerism. The IMFH also supports the Ruth B. Sayre national scholarship.

Members voted at their recent spring meeting to purchase a Sukup Safe T Home to be built in Haiti. These homes feature a double-roof system to reflect heat and catch fresh rainwater. They are used as hospitals, schools and family dwellings. The 20-gauge galvanized steel home has a 75-year life expectancy and is earthquake- and hurricane-resistant, which is important in Haiti. This will be the second home of this type the group has purchased for Haiti.

Supporting national and worldwide programs

The IMFH members are also members of the National Master Farm Homemakers, Country Women of the World and Associated Country Women of the World. Through these organizations, the state members support national projects, including building wells through the Water for All, Pennies for Friendship, Climate-Smart Agriculture and Rural Women’s Health organizations. Some of these projects have been helping fight nutritional blindness and funding skill training in agriculture, as well as setting up day care centers, home economics training and other income-generating programs for women.

“It’s such an honor to be part of this group and witness all the great things it does,” says Joyce Gauger, president of IMFH who is from Lone Tree. “It’s gratifying that we can make a small difference in our communities, state, nation and world through these projects and scholarships.”

The IMFH Guild has been sponsored by Wallaces Farmer since the program’s inception in 1928. The group’s fall meeting and recognition luncheon will be held Sept. 8 at the Airport Holiday Inn, Des Moines.