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For Kristen Smith, the inspiration behind her children’s book "I’m Thankful for a Farmer" was rooted in both her upbringing and her time as a student. Raised on her family’s farm in southwest Iowa, Smith developed a deep appreciation for the people who raise and grow our food. But it was during her sophomore year at �ձ�av��Ƶ, on the long four-and-a-half hour drives back to campus, that the idea truly took hold.

“That windshield time was when the seed was planted,” Smith, now the program director for Iowa State University Extension Taylor County, said. “I started thinking about how to help people — especially kids — understand where their food comes from and who makes it possible.”

The result was an interactive book filled with characters based on real farmers, each connected to familiar Thanksgiving foods. Her goal was simple but meaningful: to remind readers that food doesn’t begin at the grocery store. It begins with farmers who dedicate their lives to feeding others.

The journey from idea to publication took nearly four years. Smith navigated the challenges of self-publishing, researching the process and working closely with illustrator Katie Mauch to bring her vision to life. Today, her book has reached readers across the United States and even internationally. For Smith, the most meaningful moments happen in classrooms, where she reads her story directly to students.

“That was the purpose from the start,” she said. “To connect with youth, spark curiosity and help them understand who to thank for their food.”

Smith believes storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. “Meet people in the middle,” she said. “Share stories and never stop asking questions.”

What began as a quiet idea during a college drive has grown into a mission, one that continues to plant seeds of gratitude and understanding for the next generation.

Background

Kristen Smith grew up on her family’s row crop, feedlot and cow-calf operation near College Springs, Iowa, where she was involved in daily farm life. She graduated from �ձ�av��Ƶ in 2025 with a degree in agricultural communication and minors in animal science, advertising, agribusiness marketing and agricultural business. While at �ձ�av��Ƶ, she was active in CAFES Prexy Council, Sigma Alpha, Little International and worked for the college marketing and communications team. Today, Smith lives near Bedford, Iowa, and operates her own media business serving farmers and rural communities in addition to her work with extension.