In 2017, the Indiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee wanted to provide county Farm Bureaus and Agriculture in the Classroom volunteers with additional tools to promote agriculture literacy and further the mission of the AITC program.

The result was the Book of the Year program, which puts into the hands of thousands of kids books that accurately and entertainingly portray agriculture.

Each year, the WLC evaluates several books and sends three or four titles to the Book of the Year selection committee for consideration. The selection committee, which is made up of five experienced, enthusiastic AITC volunteers and educators, uses specific criteria to evaluate each book.

The winning book is then made available to AITC volunteers, educators and schools. In addition, a toolkit and an educator’s guide are produced to help volunteers and educators present the book most effectively and ensure it ties in with Indiana’s academic standards.

This year’s BOTY is My Family’s Corn Farm by Katie Olthoff (illustrated by Joe Hox). So far this year, 1,450 copies of the book have been distributed, as have 500 classroom bundles.

“I think it is great that the WLC plays a part in picking this book to help educate people on the value of agriculture,” said Janis Highley, INFB 2^nd vice president and WLC chair. “The 2024 Book of the Year, My Family’s Corn Farm, has so much great information.”

Highley added that her favorite part is the glossary at the very end of the book.

“It highlights so many of the words that a farmer uses every day, so to someone not familiar with farming, it can be very helpful,” she said. 

The previous Books of the Year are:

• 2017 – The Kid Who Changed the World, by Andy Andrews (illustrated by Philip Hurst). Copies distributed – 849.
• 2018 – John Deere, That’s Who!, by Tracy Nelson Maurer (illustrated by Tim Zeltner). Copies distributed – 964.
• 2019 – Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth, by Mary McKenna Siddals (illustrated by Ashley Wolff). Copies distributed – 2,084.
• 2020 – Popcorn County: The Story of America’s Favorite Snack, Chris Peterson (photography by David R. Lundquist). Copies distributed – 1,403.
• 2021 – Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish, by Viola Butler (illustrated by Ward Jenkins). Copies distributed – 1,428.
• 2022 – My Family's Soybean Farm, by Katie Olthoff (illustrated by Joe Hox). Copies distributed – 1,258.
• 2023 – I LOVE Strawberries!, by Shannon Anderson (illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett). Copies distributed – 1,606.

In all, INFB has distributed more than 12,000 BOTYs since the program began in 2017. Find out more at www.infb.org/boty.