Women were valued in my farm family. I was born in 1933, and I felt empowered to choose my life. My mom—teacher, poet, farmwife and community activist—became my role model. Her father was the son of German immigrants, and he and his wife had five daughters, no sons. He felt women should be educated. He felt women should have the equal right to vote. It is said that when it came to women’s right to vote, he was first in line to cast his ballot.

Growing up, I had no idea that it could be a tough slog in a man’s world. Thanks to my mom, my foundation was strong when I found out how difficult it could be.