text: 
  
  def get_earliest(*dates):
      """
      Find earliest date in list of provided date strings
  
      Parameters:
          dates (list): List of date strings in format "mm/dd/yyyy"
  
      Returns:
          str: Earliest date found in list of date strings
  
      """
      earliest = "99/99/9999"
      for date in list(dates):
          if date[-4:] < earliest[-4:]:
              earliest = date
          elif date[-4:] == earliest[-4:]:
              if date[0:2] < earliest[0:2]:
                  earliest = date
              elif date[0:2] == earliest[0:2]:
                  if date[3:5] < earliest[3:5]:
                      earliest = date
      return earliest
  
  
  