Local woman named Young Mother of the Year for Idaho

Tammy Lohmeier of Mountain Home was recently selected as the Idaho Young Mother of the Year.

From a large pool of worthy and deserving mothers around the state, Tammy Lohmeier of Mountain Home was recently selected as the Idaho Young Mother of the Year, an award honoring her for being an "outstanding, dedicated young mother" and for her "contributions in strengthening the moral and spiritual foundation of the family and home."

Tammy said that she felt very honored and excited to receive the award and modestly added, "I don't know that it should be me receiving this award. I see many other mothers doing more... we are all doing a lot and we are all trying to do a good job as mothers."

Tammy was nominated for the award by her husband, Hank Lohmeier, a strong vocal advocate of the important role that mothers serve in families and society.

"In my opinion, it is far more important for mothers to raise and nurture children well, rather than going out and earning money," Hank said, adding, "she works all day too, in the home."

Tammy, who was born in Provo, Utah, and raised in nearby Orem, is the eldest of three daughters born to Jim and Arlene Beckstead.

She met Hank on a blind date while attending Utah Valley State College and they married about a year and a half later.

The Lohmeier's have four children currently ages two to nine, and are in the process of adopting two more children. They also care for Hank's elderly father, who suffers from dementia.

Told they would be unable to conceive children of their own and longing to have a family, the Lohmeiers adopted their son, Colt, now nine, when he was just a newborn.

A year or so later, nature surprised them and their biological daughter, Sable, who is eight years old, made her entrance into the world.

A few years later, Hank and Tammy opened their hearts and home to adopt a young girl named Katheryn, who is also eight, and the younger sister of the now deceased Theresa Garcia.

The youngest addition to their family is two-year old Skylark, who was adopted by the Lohmeiers when she was a newborn.

They have been providing foster care for Skylark's two older brothers Hawk, 5, and Cayman, 3, for about a year now and are in the process of adopting the boys so they can raise the siblings together.

Tammy points out that Hank is "very supportive and helpful" with the parental responsibilities, making sure that he is available to watch the children so she has time to do things occasionally on her own, indicating the two parents enjoy a strong partnership.

She enjoys participating in sports, music and outdoor activities with her family and devotes much of her time to supporting her children's activities such as football, cheerleading, wrestling and taekwondo practices, as well as church organized activities.

"You can't be lazy as a mother," Tammy explained. "There is always something that needs to be done...whether it is cooking, cleaning, laundry, or driving them around to various activities. That includes being a good listener when they need to talk."

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lohmeiers strongly embrace the motto of "Family First" as their approach to raising a family.

"It is important to establish the parent/child relationship, to provide expectations for children and to show them love," Tammy and Hank agreed, adding humbly, "We know the principles... we just try to live them."

Tammy will travel to Las Vegas in April to attend a convention where she could be nominated to become the national Young Mother of the Year.

The program, sponsored by the organization American Mothers, Inc. (AMI), was established in 1935 to honor mothers across the nation for their contributions to the "future success and happiness of their children and society."

One outstanding mother from each participating state is chosen to represent the Mother of the Year and the Young Mother of the Year, which is a mother with children under the age of 18.

The AMI is also the official sponsor of Mother's Day.