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Rural Women Create Farm Books For Kids
When Jane Aumann and I met, she was the editor of an antique tractor magazine and I wrote for her. As parents with young children, we both noted that there weren’t many children’s books about farming. We decided to do something about it and, in 1999, started our first children’s farm book titled Tucker’s Surprise.
Our first book took shape as we met at restaurants, cutting and pasting our revisions. We stayed so long at one diner they told us we had to leave. Once the story was done, revision after revision took place until we felt ready to publish. The story line followed Tucker and his Grandpa who both shared the same birthday. Tucker tries to find the perfect birthday present for his grandpa. Most of the story is about the bonds formed between a boy and his grandpa on the farm.
In 2003, we stepped up to the plate with our next book, The Christmas Tractor. Famed tractor artist Charles Freitag agreed to collaborate with us on his first children’s book. He created paintings for each page bringing the story of Allie to life. The Christmas Tractor depicted a family that bought back the family tractor at an auction. After the tractor got home everyone helped restore it to its former glory, everyone that is except for little Allie who was told “You are too little to help”. Allie found her own way to contribute creating her own Christmas surprise.
Our latest book, My Name is Huber; a Tractor’s Story focuses on a 1927 Huber tractor that rolls off the factory room floor and tells his own story. Huber works on his farm through the Depression and World War II offering insight into farming practices of that time and place. After being replaced by newer, faster equipment, finally the farmer’s grandson restores Huber to like-new condition so he gets to share his story with a new generation. The artwork for Huber is taken from actual photographs.
Our mission is to preserve agricultural heritage. We sell our books primarily through ads in publications that fit our audience and writing articles or speaking to groups about our stories. We are just two women that have found a story we want to tell. Believing in yourself and what you want to accomplish is the most important key we have found.
The books sell for $10 apiece plus $2 S&H. Available at Amazon.com or contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Cindy Ladage, Roots & Wings, 35216 E. 5th Rd., Virden, Ill. 62690 (ph 217 741-9509; cindy.ladage@royell.org).


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2013 - Volume #37, Issue #2