What could be sweeter for a first-grader than receiving a new book?
Well, maybe pairing that new book with a side of strawberries.
It seemed a pretty popular pairing Thursday as more than 130 first-graders at Lake Ripley Elementary School and School of St. Philip in Litchfield received copies of the hardcover book “I LOVE Strawberries” and a bowl of strawberries.
The books and berries came courtesy of Meeker County Farm Bureau and local Farm Bureau Financial Services agents.
“We are excited to present these books to local students,” Meeker County Farm Bureau Presiden Matt Johnson said. “A key part of Farm Bureau’s mission is to increase agriculture literacy and provide future consumers information about locally raised crops and livestock. These books with accurate information help advance the mission.”
“I LOVE Strawberries,” written by Sharon Anderson and illustrated by Jaclyn Singuqett, follows a young girl and her faithful rabbit, Munchy, as they learn how complicated, but rewarding, it can be to grow their own food. Winner of a “Good Housekeeping” Best Kids’ Book Award in 2022, the book tells young readers, through a scrapbook-style journal, how strawberries grow and what pests to look for in the garden.
Meeker County Farm Bureau and local agents Ian McGuire and Michael Niedzielski teamed up on the book giveaway for the first time last year when they distributed 130 books at Lake Ripley Elementary. The presentation included a talk by a local strawberry farmer, Sally Hendricks, who provided tips for students and teachers.
That effort earned national recognition when Meeker County Farm Bureau was one of 24 county organizations across the country honored during the American Farm Bureau Federation national convention in January with a County Activities of Excellence award.
The popularity of last year’s program convinced the local Farm Bureau, along with Niedzielski and McGuire, with agent Kevin Christoffers also joining, to repeat the effort this year.
The presentation at Ripley and St. Philip’s this year included local strawberry farmers Randy and Mavis Jones of Jonesy Berry Farm in Grove Grove City. As they entered the gym at Lake Ripley, each student received a bowl of strawberries to enjoy while Darci Johnson, Matt’s wife, read “I LOVE Strawberries” to the assembly. That was followed by a question-and-answer session with the Joneses sharing information about their farm and the strawberry-growing knowledge.
“It’s supposed to be education and fun,” Matt Johnson said of the book and presentation. “The kids are learning accurate facts about agriculture, and we’re trying to get kids encouraged about agriculture, interested in growing stuff, even if it’s just in their backyard. The more they’re learning to do this stuff, the better for agriculture.”
