Children’s author signed ag books at IFB annual meeting

Michelle Houts, an Ohio elementary speech therapist, didn't grow up showing livestock at local fairs, but she has lived that experince through her daughter. Houts saw a need to share the reality of raising livestock to young readers. Her answer was the book "The Beef Princess of Practical County."

During the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago, Houts share that book with Illinois farmers and signed several copies.

"Nobody really had written about the reality of raising livestock for market purposes," Houts said. She remembered watching her daughter when the show animals were auctioned at the fair. "It's such a public way to say goodbye to an animal that's basically become a pet," Houts added.

"I wanted to write something that was true to agriculture and not the view of someone looking in. It's a true family farm story," Houts said of "Beef Princess."

Houts described her book as providing "a positive image for animal agriculture." She noted the book was published around the time Ohio voters were debating animal care and welfare issues.

At IFB's Annual Meeting, the author also conducted a special workshop for Chicago teachers. Teachers who attend the workshop will receive Agriculture in the Classroom materials related to her book.

Houts and her husband raise corn, soybeans, and wheat on 1,800 acres near Celina, Ohio. They also have hogs and the children's 4-H steers. One daughter also raises and shows boer goats.