Iowa Files: Over the Hill to the Poor Farm

Iowa's "poor farms," or county homes, were institutions established in the 1800s to care for the indigent, including orphans, the elderly, and those with disabilities. These farms were a way for counties to manage the care of the poor, often with residents expected to contribute through farm labor and housework.

Gayla Hawkins was an administrator at the Boone County Poor Farm, and will share stories of this safety net that encouraged the community to take care of their neighbors.