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Sometimes the Leading Edge is Bloody
There are times where communities do not know or recognize the value of the local entrepreneurs.
Communities have a habit and culture of not looking at the expertise that is right under their nose.
Meet Denise O'Brien.
Denise a farmer and community volunteer from Atlantic, Iowa. She has farmed with her husband, Larry Harris, for 45 years. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. Denise and Larry maintain seventeen acres of the original Harris farm, 5 of which are in certified organic fruit and vegetable production incorporating a high tunnel and greenhouse for starter plants. O’Brien also raises turkeys and chickens for meat and egg production. Denise loves the physical and mental challenge that organic vegetable production offers.
By farming, Denise has had numerous opportunities to work within the agricultural community by working on policy development on the state, national and international level and becoming involved in the community of local food systems and conservation issues.
Throughout her farming career, Denise has been involved in her community as well as in the agricultural sector. She is the co-founder of Women Food and Agriculture Network. She is past Chair of the Board of Directors for Pesticide Action Network of North America. Denise also helped found and served on the board of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, an organization that uses easements to preserve land for food production in Iowa. She currently serves on the board of the Iowa Organic Association, is the Chair for the county Democratic Party and is an Assistant Soil and Water Commissioner.
O'Brien served as an Agriculture Advisor in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012 and used that experience to deepen her knowledge of women farmers on an international level.
Denise has received numerous awards for her community achievements and accomplishments and was inducted into Iowa's Women's Hall of Fame in 2000. She has run for numerous public offices from school board to the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2006 to running for the Iowa Legislature in 2018. Never winning but always willing to step forward!
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By Frank SpillersThere are times where communities do not know or recognize the value of the local entrepreneurs.
Communities have a habit and culture of not looking at the expertise that is right under their nose.
Meet Denise O'Brien.
Denise a farmer and community volunteer from Atlantic, Iowa. She has farmed with her husband, Larry Harris, for 45 years. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. Denise and Larry maintain seventeen acres of the original Harris farm, 5 of which are in certified organic fruit and vegetable production incorporating a high tunnel and greenhouse for starter plants. O’Brien also raises turkeys and chickens for meat and egg production. Denise loves the physical and mental challenge that organic vegetable production offers.
By farming, Denise has had numerous opportunities to work within the agricultural community by working on policy development on the state, national and international level and becoming involved in the community of local food systems and conservation issues.
Throughout her farming career, Denise has been involved in her community as well as in the agricultural sector. She is the co-founder of Women Food and Agriculture Network. She is past Chair of the Board of Directors for Pesticide Action Network of North America. Denise also helped found and served on the board of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, an organization that uses easements to preserve land for food production in Iowa. She currently serves on the board of the Iowa Organic Association, is the Chair for the county Democratic Party and is an Assistant Soil and Water Commissioner.
O'Brien served as an Agriculture Advisor in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012 and used that experience to deepen her knowledge of women farmers on an international level.
Denise has received numerous awards for her community achievements and accomplishments and was inducted into Iowa's Women's Hall of Fame in 2000. She has run for numerous public offices from school board to the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2006 to running for the Iowa Legislature in 2018. Never winning but always willing to step forward!