Gathered to install the new Learning Barn Bookcase at Red Bay High School are, from left to right, librarian Stacey Jackson, Women’s Leadership Vice Chairperson Shirley Ezzell, WLD member Elizabeth Glass, WLD member Elizabeth Daniel, WLD Chairperson Carol Glass, WLD member Annette Sturdivant, RBHS agriculture teacher Jarod Massey and WLD member Becky Hester with (front) Addie Massey, 5, Andrew Massey, 9, and Preston Henson, 5.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Sept. 21 saw a years-long project come to fruition for the Women’s Leadership Division of the Franklin County Farmer’s Federation: they donated their final set of farming-related books.

The women of the group have been donating a set of farming books in a Learning Barn Bookcase to elementary schools in Franklin County as part of a project that began nearly three years ago. Last Monday, the final set was presented to the Red Bay High School Library.

Displayed in a unique barn-shaped shelving unit, titles include, among others, “The Story of Calvin Cotton,” “Farmer George Plants a Nation,” “Little Blue Truck,” “How Groundhog’s Garden Grew” and “Why Do Donkeys Have Such Long Ears?”

“Farming is something kids are not used to anymore,” said Women’s Leadership Division Chairperson Carol Glass. “Kids don’t know where their food comes from … Children do not get to visit the farm much anymore, so we hope that reading the farm books might create an interest in the agriculture field, whether it be to become a farmer or an agriculture teacher. We spent a lot of times choosing these books.”

Each elementary school library – West, Tharptown, East Franklin, Phil Campbell, Belgreen, Red Bay and Vina – has now received 31 books for children to check out to discover agricultural wonders.

The Women’s Leadership Division also commissioned local high school agriculture departments to build the barn bookcases – Red Bay’s was built by Jarod Massey.