Posted on August 31, 2026 at 1:42 PM by Anna Egan
Barb Mass was born and raised a “big city” girl in Kansas City, Missouri, but became an “Iowa girl” after moving to a small town in Iowa in 1969. She eventually made her home on farms around Mineola and Silver City. Although 4-H was not available where she grew up, Barb quickly learned about the program when her daughters, Julie, Trisha, and Shawna, joined 4-H. She became a leader of the Jolly Juniors 4-H Club and especially enjoyed helping with cooking and sewing projects.
Barb and her late husband, Bill, loved attending the Iowa State Fair, sometimes arguing over what to see first – the Cattle Barn or the 4-H Exhibit Building. Bill was a 4-H member, as were his two sons, Ryan and Nathan. They enjoyed following their children and later their grandsons, Zachary and Brendan, through their 4-H years in Mills County.
Barb served on the Mills County Extension Council for over 20 years. She also worked in the Fair Office preparing 4-H premium checks, wrote comments for static judging, and interviewed 4-H members for awards and scholarships. After retiring from her CPA practice, she continued serving others through the IRS VITA tax program at the Extension Office and later served on the Mills County 4-H Foundation Board.
Although Barb was not raised with 4-H, it did not take her long to love the program and appreciate how it helps young people be prepared for whatever the future brings for them. Her support and efforts have made a lasting impact on Mills County.
