An Illustrator Talks about the Agriculture in the Classroom Convention
NOTE: This post is by illustrator Terry Kole, who staffed the Mims House Book at the National Association of Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Providence, Rhode Island last week.
Thanks, Teachers!
I had the honor of representing author Darcy Pattison and Mims House Books at the 2026 National Agriculture in Education Conference in Providence, RI this past week. I am one of many artists in Mims House's pool of children's book illustrators. She chose me and my art for her latest book, Thanks, Farmers!
The National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference = Enthusiasm!
I didn't quite know what to expect at this #NAITC26 event. It was held just up the road from where I live, so if it was poorly attended, or if I flopped, at least our risk didn't include airfare and hotel fees!
What hit me was a wall of very enthusiastic educators from school, county and agriculture programs all across our country! They lined up at our booth for their free, autographed paperback copy of Thanks, Farmers! ~ to chat with and be photographed with the Scarecrow one day and the Broccoli the next ~ and to purchase sets of Darcy's other related titles, CLIMATE, POLLEN and EROSION. Click the cover images below for more information on each title.
Having FUN at a Convention
I think I forgot to mention...I dressed up for the event.
Life is too short to be boring! And dressing up is too much fun when you're an unassuming grandma!
The looks I got!!
When Darcy explained the Thanks, Farmers! book project to me - I immediately became excited. I have farmers in my family. I have been a pre-school teacher and a 4th and 5th grade teachers' aide both while living in Vienna, Austria.
I LOVE plays and musicals almost as much as I LOVE costumes! As I thought about the fictional children I was about to draw in their fictional school somewhere in the world creating their own homespun event to thank their local farmers, my mind went to the costumes. What could a teacher or parent easily make for their student for this little musical play? Each costume in the book was created with practicality and affordability in mind. When Darcy asked me to man the Mims House Books booth - I knew I wanted to create one or two of these costumes and arrive dressed for the occasion!
Was it the 2-story tower of balloons? Mims' colorful banner with the book covers on it, or the costumed lady down the row that drew them to the table? We didn't advertise FREE on our signage...so I surmise...it was the costumes !
I met so many wonderful, intentional, engaged teachers who desperately want to raise the next generation of farmers and environment protectors. It was an honor (and a blast) to be there.
We ended the event with a shared meal, (a couple of the teachers made sure I had plates of tasty food).
NOTE: Many thanks from Mims House to Terry for staffing the booth with humor, enthusiasm, and heart.
ALSO READ:
LitLinks: Bring ELA to life with a song about farmers.
This blog post talks about how to use Thanks, Farmers in your ELA classroom! You can download the teacher's guide and much more.
OTHER BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY TERRY KOLE
Celebrate the 250th Birthday of the U.S. with This George Washington Story
In January 1776, George Washington had a problem: the British army controlled the city of Boston. The colonial army needed to force the British to leave. But how?
Washington had a solution: ask his engineer Rufus Putnam to solve the problem. They needed to take control of the high ground, Dorchester Heights, just south of Boston. They could place cannons there to bombard the British army.
Click the book cover to read more about Rufus Putnam's genius enginnering!
P.S. If you like Terry's illustrations in Thanks, Farmers, you'll LOVE the illustrations in this Revolutionary War story!
