Suggested Methods

1. Watch the video segment, “Occupational Folklife in Iowa.” Discuss the various forms of occupational folklife that come up in the video, such as stories, beliefs, work techniques, vocabulary, and crafts.
   
2. One element that ties these occupations together is the role of the environment. Discuss this role in each case. How might environmental regulations affect jobs presented in the video? What are some of the common difficulties that these workers face? How does their occupational folklife help them surmount these problems?
   
3. What else do these occupations have in common? What evidence is there that Jack Libbey, John Duccini, Bruce Williams, and Karmen Mehmen enjoy their work? What are the kinds of concerns that they have with their work? Who helps them at their jobs?

Student Activity

Interview parents or neighbors who are working and have them tell you what they do, what skills they use to accomplish their work, what materials are needed, what their relationship is like, if applicable, with co-workers, supervisor, and people they supervise. Can they relate any stories, pranks, or jokes about the job?

HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS:

1. Read Nancy Michael’s article on “Community in the Workplace.” Compare and contrast the type of work culture formally developed by a company with the occupational cultures seen in the video.
   
2. Read Richard Horwitz’s article “Hogs & the Meaning of Life in Iowa.” Discuss the ways in which work-related tasks and concerns become a metaphor for the larger society and other types of relationships.

Home/Community Connection

Contact a county extension agent or game warden to visit the class to discuss changes in commercial fishing and farming in Iowa. Compare the fishing, towboating, and farming of today with how these occupations were practiced a century ago, or even several decades ago. In the past, farming techniques were usually handed down within the family. At present new techniques for farming are taught in schools and universities. How has this different way of learning influenced the occupational folklife of farmers? What do you think the future will be like for workers in these occupations?

Student/Senior Citizen Exchange

Interview a retired senior about a job he or she had for a long period of time. Sample interview questions could include:

• How did you get started with your job?
• What types of tasks did you have to do?
• What was a typical day like?
• What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in your profession?
• What are some of the biggest problems Iowans face today in this field?
• What do you think the future of the field will be in Iowa?
• How interested are young people in this career?

		Photo
		LESSON 1.5
	Karmen Mehmen surveys her devastated corn field. How does farming connect someone personally to the environment?
				PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CARLIN