Gary Duane Lamb, 86

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Duane Lamb, 86, of Chelsea, Iowa, on September 26, 2023, at the Brooklyn Community Estate in Brooklyn, IA. In his last days, Papa Lamb left this life for greener pastures surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, and a great grandchild.

Gary was born July 12, 1937, on a 160-acre farmstead south of Chelsea to his late parents Floyd and Lillian Lamb. After the death of his father in a farm accident on Oct. 7, 1952, Gary, only 16, operated the farm for his mother along with help from his younger brother, Dennis.

In Gary’s early years, he was an excellent athlete, a talented self-taught artist and a bull rider in local rodeos.

Gary graduated from high school in 1955, joined the U.S. Army (1959-1961) and spent 18 months in Germany. After returning from Germany, Gary started farming full-time where his passion and love for their small family farm only grew exponentially over time. He married Beth (Kern) from Belle Plaine and raised their 4 children.

Gary was a quintessential cowboy. He loved horses, Gunsmoke and good western books and movies. He owned many horses over the years but none more favored than Shorty, a large quarter horse that would follow Gary’s every command. In 1964, Gary and Beth bought 300 acres of pasture and timberland known as Rainbow Lake. Many wonderful memories of Gary were made on this land. Gary could often be seen riding Shorty on these rolling hills, whistling or singing one of his original country songs while checking on his cattle, a spade secured to the saddle looking to take out a rogue thistle. He would later build a log cabin by the lake which is where his grandchildren grew up getting pony rides from a real cowboy. This log cabin hosted people from 30 states and five countries with an occasional politician such as Howard Dean visiting to discuss ag policy in rural America.

For nearly 60 years, Gary farmed and was an advocate for farmers, whom he considered the backbone of America. He remained dedicated to Thomas Jefferson’s vision of the United States being a nation where small farmers could exist and make a living. Hoping to head off the farm crisis of the mid 1980s, he ran for Congress in 1982. Although coming up short in that Congressional race, Gary continued his activism. He served as Iowa Senator Tom Harkin’s Agriculture liaison (1984-1986) and in 1986 was a candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

In 1986, he was elected President of the Iowa Farmers’ Union (1986-1992). There he earned the Meritorious Service Award to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture in 1993. In 1993, former US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy appointed him to the USDA as chairman of the Iowa Farm Service Agency Committee (1993-2001).

Gary worked with Iowa State University on a farmer exchange program which included Gary and Beth hosting a Russian farmer in 1990 and then spent three weeks in the Russian Federation. The Lambs developed a lasting connection with their Russian friends whom they now consider family. The Ivanov family has visited Gary, Beth and their family at their farm numerous times over the years.

Recognized for being an excellent public speaker, Gary was invited to address the newly elected Bill Clinton and Al Gore as a Representative for the Iowa Farmers Union on December 15, 1992. One can see and hear his presentation by googling ‘Gary Lamb on CSpan.’

In 2008, when Barack Obama campaigned for the Iowa Primaries, Gary organized farm groups for him to speak with and accompanied him to introduce him at these events. President Obama would later recognize Gary’s efforts in his 2020 “A Promised Land” (p.106) crediting Gary as being one of the people contributing to his win in the Iowa primary.

Gary’s activism led him to Germany and Switzerland to the GATT negotiations and to Japan on a farm leadership tour with six other US farm leaders, discussing agriculture, exports and trade issues. In 2009, Gary was one of five people the USDA named to oversee the activities of the Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA). There he earned the highest award the FSA had to offer. Gary retired from FSA in 2013. He and Beth continued to live on the family farm where his grandparents raised his mother.

He will be missed by his wife, Beth; children: Kenon (Angela), Juston (Lori), Lynette (Jeff) and Mindy; younger brother Dennis (Kay); 10 grandchildren: (Josh, Jourdan, Jacey, Brady, Tyson, Logan, Aubrey, Zachary, Jackson and Meisha); and one great grandchild (Easton).

The family would like to thank Brooklyn Community Estate for their exceptional and compassionate care given to Gary. There is no public service, but family will gather for a remembrance at the log cabin at Rainbow Lake this fall.

A Celebration of Life service is being planned for Spring 2024. Condolences can be sent to Beth or family at Lynettelb719@gmail.com or sent to 719 34th Place, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be sent to The Iowa Farmers Union, PO Box 1883 Ames, IA 50010-1883 or the Tama County Food Pantry 137 W 3rd St., Tama, IA 52339.