Farm organizations put special twist on literacy event

Four Imperial Valley agriculture entities teamed up to celebrate Thursday’s National Read a Book Day with a twist.

UC Farm Smart, Imperial County Farm Bureau, Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association and Imperial Valley Water connected 15 volunteers from the agricultural community with 14 classrooms across Imperial County to launch the first Imperial Valley Read a Book with a Farmer event.

Through the program, farmers, ranchers, and ag industry professionals, read in the classroom a designated ag accurate book to more than 400 third grade students at various times and schools throughout day.

The volunteers not only read the book to the students, but they shared personal stories about their farms, programs or other connections to agriculture. They led an interactive student discussion about agriculture in everyone’s daily life. The book was then donated to the classroom teacher along with additional lessons to expand student learning.

This year’s book selection was “Who Grew My Soup?” by Tom Darbyshire.

“Who Grew My Soup?” tells the story of young Phineas Quinn and his questions about the vegetable soup his mom serves for lunch. Phin declares he won’t slurp a single spoonful until he knows: Who grew my soup? Much to Phin’s surprise, a man in a flying tomato balloon shows up to answer this stirring question. Phin and magical Mr. Mattoo then fly from farm to farm, learning about amazing vegetables and the farmers who grow them.

“Who Grew My Soup?” is an entertaining and educational 32-page hardcover book featuring the illustrations of award-winning artist, caricaturist, and illustrator C. F. Payne. Mr. Payne’s work has appeared in Time magazine, Rolling Stone magazine, Sports Illustrated magazine, and National Geographic magazines, and his portraits can be found in the Norman Rockwell Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.

The four local agriculture entities (UC Farm Smart, Imperial County Farm Bureau, Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association and Imperial Valley Water) and those who grow our world’s food, fiber and fuel were pleased to honor National Read a Book Day by sitting down with local students and reading a book about agriculture.

COURTESY PHOTO Andrew Leimgruber reads to third graders at Meadows Union School in El Centro Thursday at the inaugural Read a Book with a Farmer Day.

COURTESY PHOTO Brian Strahm reads “Who Grew My Soup,” by Tom Darbyshire, to third graders at Pine Elementary School in Holtville Thursday.