March is National Women’s History Month.
The 2017 theme honors women who have successfully challenged the traditional role of women in the workplace. Donna Evans, 51, Iola, is a local woman who has not only challenged the role of women in the paid labor force but also challenged herself to go outside her comfort level.
Evans is employed at the Allen County Landfill, LaHarpe. She works five to six days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but she will not be found in the office.
“I am an equipment operator,” she said. “I run the compactor, the loader, trackhoe, dozer and dump truck.”
When Evans applied for the position three years ago, after resigning from Russell Stover Candies, she had no experience operating heavy equipment.
“I figured all I could do was try,” she said.
At first the job was pretty intimidating, and she has made some blunders over the years, she said.
But all in all she does not regret stepping outside the box and working a position traditionally held by men. Her male co-workers have been supportive.
“They have always helped me whenever I needed them to or given me tips on how to do things easier,” she said.
Evans does not think her gender in a limiting factor. In fact, she said it has given her an advantage because she feels her male co-workers have demonstrated more patience toward her learning than they would have a man. She feels confident in her ability to maneuver the equipment and the position has served her well.
“It’s stinky,” she said of the landfill, “but the county has treated me real well.”
Picking up trash all day can be exhausting, but on the bright side, most of the equipment she drives is air-conditioned.
“It has been a good experience,” she said. “I have learned a lot.”
Evans encourages females to try any job traditionally associated with men.
“They (women) can do anything they put their minds to and can be equal to men,” she said. “I think that women are finally realizing they can do things like that.”
