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Named in honor of Ada Hayden, of Ames, Howard County's Hayden Prairie is made up of 239 acres of native prairie acquired by the state of Iowa in 1946. The prairie's name recognizes Hayden's contribution to the conservation movement. A 1904 graduate of Ames High School and a 1908 graduate of Iowa State College, Hayden became the first woman to earn a PhD degree at Iowa State. (Photo was taken of the Hayden Prairie sign on October 12, 1995, by Farwell Brown)