Kamshat Baigazinovna Donenbaeva (Kazakh: Кәмшат Байғазықызы Дөненбаева; Kämşat Baiğazyqyzy Dönenbaeva, [kʰæmʂættʰønʲenbαjiva]; 15 September 1943 – 9 November 2017) was a Kazakhstani agricultural laborer, who served as a deputy in the Supreme Soviet from 1974 to 1989. For exceeding production goals, she was awarded the Order of Lenin twice and in 1975 received the Hero of Socialist Labour medal.
Kamshat Baigazinovna Donenbaeva[1] was born on 15 September 1943 in Leninskoye (now Uzunkol), in the Kostanay Region of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.[2][citation needed] At the age of fourteen, she began working at the Demyanovsky grain elevator, while attending mechanics courses. She completed her schooling in 1961 at the Kostanai Agricultural College, graduating as an equipment operator.[2][3]
Donenbaeva began work as a tractor driver on the state collective farm "Kharkov".[3] Within a year, she began to set production records for plowing on a Belarus-style tractor. In 1962, she exceed her allotted 720 hectares to plow by competing 1,018 hectares.[citation needed] She began testing equipment, working on a variety of tractors including the MTZ-5, MTZ-50, DT-54, DT-74, K-700, and K-701, as well as combines, mowers and reapers.[3] The Kirovets K-700 was designed specifically for Donenbaeva and she was the first to test the equipment.[4] Annually she exceeded her plowing yields by one and a half to two times her required production.[citation needed][3] In 1972, Donenbaeva placed first in the regional plowing competition of plowers and took 3rd place in the national competition. For her effort, she was awarded the Order of Lenin on 13 December 1972. The following year, she took the grand prize at the All-Union competition in Zernograd.[3][citation needed]
Donenbaeva died on 9 November 2017 in Kostanay and her funeral was held at the Mosque of Kostanay.[citation needed] In September 2018, the regional House of Friendship hosted a memorial in honor of Donenbaeva and it was announced that a biography was being prepared of her life.[4]
Kuzovatov, Sergey (2017). "Доненбаева, Камшат Байгазиновна" [Kamshat Baigazinovna Donenbaeva]. warheroes.ru (in Russian). Russia: Герои страны. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
Mostovoy, Zakhar (10 November 2017). "Скончалась первая казахстанская трактористка" [The first Kazakhstani tractor driver died]. 365 Info (in Russian). Astana, Kazakhstan. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
"Скончалась Камшат Доненбаева" [Kamshat Donenbayeva dies]. Наша Газета. Kostanay, Kazakhstan. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.