Bringing agriculture to bookshelves

DAKOTA  — Growing up on her family’s diversified farm, Shelby Erdmann learned early on that every piece of equipment has a purpose and brings along new lessons.

From feeding cattle and cleaning pens to helping with hay season, Erdmann said farm life has always been a central part of who she is. Now, the high school junior has turned her love of farming into a children’s book that highlights her own Oliver tractor in “Ollie Belongs on the Farm.”

The book was inspired by two young boys, Cullen and Blaine, whom she babysits. Erdmann said one is a devoted International Harvester fan while the other rarely goes without his John Deere hat. Erdmann, a passionate Oliver tractor enthusiast, was on a search for a children’s book or toy that featured her favorite brand.

“I looked everywhere, and there wasn’t anything out there,” Erdmann said. “There were informational books, but no children’s books about Oliver tractors.”

What started as a small project quickly grew into something larger. While spending time near the family’s chicken coop during hay season, she began writing.

“I was down by the chicken coop one day and just started writing,” Erdmann said. “I couldn’t stop writing; it was hay season, so I thought, ‘Why not just make it based around hay season?’”

Soon she had created a story centered around Ollie, an Oliver tractor trying to find his place on the farm.

Erdmann said the characters in the book are inspired by real people, family members and friends. Even the tractors have special meaning. Monty, a John Deere tractor in the story, was named in memory of Erdmann’s dad’s friend. Throughout the pages, readers will find familiar faces and references drawn.

While the story revolves around tractors and farm work, Erdmann said she hopes readers take away a deeper message.

“A big part of the book is learning that even though someone is different, they still belong,” Erdmann said. “You shouldn’t judge someone before you give them a chance.”

That message is especially meaningful to Erdmann, who has grown up alongside her older brother, who was without oxygen for several minutes after birth, causing lifelong health problems.

My brother is different, so the book reminds kids that despite differences, you should not judge, Erdmann said.

Publishing the book turned out to be a much bigger challenge than writing it. Erdmann spent months learning the self-publishing process, creating page layouts, selecting fonts, formatting illustrations and meeting publishing requirements. She worked with friends who helped draw characters and add watercolor details while seeking advice from teachers who had self-published books of their own.

“I thought I’d have it done by Christmas,”Erdmann said. “Then, I thought Valentine’s Day. Then, I thought March. It finally became an Easter gift.”

Despite the challenges in the publishing process, Erdmann said seeing children react to the story made the effort worthwhile. Erdmann has read the book to several classrooms, where students eagerly identified tractors and connected with the story.

“It was really cool to see their faces light up,” Erdmann said. “Some kids would point at Ollie and immediately know it was an Oliver tractor.”

Erdmann said she also enjoys that the book teaches non-farm children about agriculture. Rather than simplifying farm life, she included details about haymaking, equipment preparation and daily farm responsibilities.

“I wanted kids who don’t grow up on farms to learn something about agriculture,” Erdmann said. “A lot of people don’t really know how hay gets made or how much work goes into it.”

The lessons found in farming have also shaped Erdmann’s outlook on life, she said. Whether troubleshooting broken equipment or dealing with unpredictable weather, she has learned the value of patience and problem-solving.

“Sometimes, you just have to step back and look at a problem from a different perspective,” Erdmann said. “That’s farming.”

Looking ahead, Erdmann is already brainstorming ideas for a second book.

“I want to write a book for every farming season,” Erdmann said.

Beyond writing, Erdmann plans to pursue a career as a speech-language pathology assistant after high school, as the profession will allow her to work with children while remaining close to the farm she loves.

For now, though, she is proud to have accomplished something many adults only dream about.

“I never imagined writing a book would be this much work,” Erdmann said. “But seeing kids enjoy it makes it worth it.”