A young blacksmith’s quest to design a better plow is the theme of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s 11th “Book of the Year” award. Tracy Nelson Maurer is this year’s recipient for her book “John Deere, That’s Who!”
Maurer is the author of more than 100 books, including many nonfiction books for children. She lives near Minneapolis with her family and loves to interact with readers on her frequent school and library visits.
Maurer notes, “John Deere [originally] had nothing to do with tractors; I learned from researching another project. I thought kids would think that’s a fun fact. Maybe they’d want to know more: What exactly did this guy do? Why is he famous? That’s what this book answers in a fun way, and it shows how one determined and creative person influenced an entire nation. I’m honored to receive this recognition, and I’m grateful for the Foundation’s work to share important stories about America’s farming legacy.”
The “Book of the Year” award springs from the Foundation’s effort to identify “Accurate Ag Books,” a collection of nearly 500 books for children, teenagers, and adults that accurately covers agricultural topics. Book of the Year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more, and touch their readers’ lives as well as tell the farmer’s story. The Accurate Ag Books database is available at: http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs.
In honor of Maurer’s award and Nashville, the host city of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, the American Farm Bureau Foundation donated books and a $1,000 ag literacy grant to a local Tennessee school.
