Success in life requires a backbone, not a wishbone. Just ask Shannon Latham, who was diagnosed with scoliosis (an extreme curvature of the spine) when she was in junior high.
“My mom will tell you one of the hardest days of her life was watching me struggle to put on my shoes after I was fitted into my back brace,” said Shannon, who grew up in Greene, Iowa. “The prosthetist said I needed to learn to do things for myself. My parents never let me believe I was a victim, and for that, I will be forever grateful.”
This instilled a spirit of strength in Shannon. When she enrolled in Iowa State’s College of Agriculture in 1989,
the ratio of males to females was 5 to 1.
“I believe one of the main reasons I’ve succeeded in agriculture is because I haven’t made an issue out of my gender,” Shannon said. “I treat all people with respect. I study hard and work harder.”
That kind of backbone defines the American spirit, which Shannon embraces through:
1. A strong work ethic. Shannon grew the size and quality of her purebred, registered Suffolk flock as part of a 10-year 4-H Sheep Project. She tracked expenses and revenue. She also came up with a farm name and promoted it. This marketing mindset inspired her to complete an MBA from the University of Iowa. It also influences her role with Latham Hi-Tech Seeds.
2. Small-business savvy. Shannon’s parents were small-business owners who taught her the value of a dollar. At age 10, she opened a checking account solely for buying and selling sheep. “I wasn’t allowed to spend what I didn’t have,” says Shannon, who applied her business skills to other entrepreneurial endeavors.
3. Assertiveness. Shannon landed her first full-time as director of legislative affairs. As a 21-year-old lobbyist, Shannon needed to talk to a state senator about an unintended consequence of a bill he had sponsored.
“I offered an amendment to solve the problem,” she recalled. “He got in my face and said, ‘You tell your boss not to send a little girl to do a man’s job.‘” I looked at him and calmly responded, ‘In all due respect, my boss sent me to do this job because he knows I’m competent and capable.‘”
4. Pursue Your Passion. While attending the 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus trip, Shannon became interested in someday holding public office. She was elected in 2020 to the Iowa House of Representatives. As a freshman, she served as vice chair of the Appropriations Committee. Then, in 2022, she served as chair of the House Local Government Committee. She was re-elected in November 2024 to her third term and is currently awaiting her committee assignments.
Shannon’s leadership has earned her many awards, including the Iowa Soybean Association’s Advocate for Agriculture, inclusion in the 2016 FarmHer Hall of Fame, and ISU’s Greenlee 2020 Professional Achievement Award. Of all the titles she’s held, however, “mom” is her favorite. Ian graduated in May 2024 from Iowa State University. He recently started a job as Government Relations Manager for Iowa Corn. Ellie recently started a job at the new Bin Town Daycare Center in Sheffield.
5. Giving back. Shannon is active in Zion St. John Lutheran Church and has served on the church council. She was a Girl Scout leader for 12 years and served as the inaugural chair of the Communications Committee for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). She is a former member of the Iowa 4-H and Franklin County 4-H Foundations.
When she isn’t serving her state or her community, Shannon enjoys traveling. She also is an avid reader and enjoys spending time in the kitchen.
Shannon’s Pork Roast with Raspberry Sauce is a fix-it-and-forget type of meal that looks impressive, especially when company is coming.
