Louise Dukes

Grew up on a farm in Taylor County--elementary education received in a one-room rural school, Graduated from Bedford High School 1948 Received B.S. In Education from Northwest Mo. State University in May 1953 Graduate work from NWMSU Marycrest College Began teaching career in a Taylor County rural one-room school.

 Was a full-time mother and homemaker for 15 years before returning to the teaching career from which I retired in 1992. As a girl was active In 4-H served as Iowa 4-H girls' President 1948-1949 International Farm Youth Exchange delegate to the Netherlands in 1952 hosted AFS student in 1970-71.

Mother of three children grandmother of seven. The following is taken from the nomination for Master Farm Homemaker prepared by the Young Mothers' Group of which I am a sponsor and done without my knowledge:

 When the children were small Louise took opinion polls for Wallaces Farmer magazine to earn extra money for her family. In 1989 Louise and her daughter Martha worked together on a student exchange which brought a classroom of elementary inner-city children to rural Iowa to give them an opportunity to learn about the modern concept of farming and visit hog beef dairy and sheep operations. Parents and chaperones learned much also Louise promoted poster contests for the local Soil Conservation Service through her elementary art classes. She was very supportive of the family's farm sale of tillage equipment when they made the decision to go total no-till before It was being done by most local farmers. Louise is a college graduate and taught school for 27 years. Her two daughters are college graduates and also teach. Her son is a farmer and president of the Bedford Community School Board. Louise is always learning and has taught grandchildren from an early age to be "sponges" absorbing everything they can from every experience they encounter. The relationship between parents and children was (and is) one of continual encouragement to do and achieve to their fullest potential. There Is common respect between parents children and grandchildren. The family has always had the freedom to pursue individual interests and commitments. When the children were young her main priority was her family so most social activities revolved around family neighbors and church. As the children reached their teen years Louise became more involved in organizations and the responsibilities they involved.

Organizations: Served as PTA and Band Parents' president member of Iowa High School Press Association Iowa Talented and Gifted Association NEA ISEA BCEA Southwest Iowa Reading Council Iowa Artists Delta Kappa Gamma PEO American Cancer Society Bedford United Methodist Church Bedford Foundation Board Lioness Iowa -Mothers Association

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