We are so proud to continue celebrating an incredible project led by Harrison Middle School teacher Mrs. Stephanie Benton and her talented students. Mrs. Benton, HMS student Brynlee King, and local author Brandy Mincer spent their morning at Harrison's local radio station, KHOZ, to discuss the students' progress on the book, Farmer Jack and the Never Ending Puzzle.
The trio was interviewed by Dan Reynolds and Ann Lemley on the station’s popular program, "Around the Table." They shared the journey of this book's creation and its importance to the community.
The project began as an answer to Mrs. Benton’s 8th-grade literacy unit question: "What is one well-informed action members of your community can take to promote healthy sustainable food choices or contribute to environmental improvement?"
Students Brynlee King and Ty Willmott recognized a need for information about local Boone County farmers, giving birth to the Homegrown Stories initiative. Through a special collaboration with author Brandy Mincer, they interviewed local farmer Billy Jack Burns. Based on interviews and quotes from Mr. Burns, this literary non-fiction story beautifully illustrates his philosophy: "Every day is a new puzzle" on the farm. The book also proudly features beautiful illustrations by another HMS 8th-grade student, Madelyn Sutton.
The publication of Farmer Jack and the Never Ending Puzzle is a massive accomplishment for our students, and the community's support is essential to this project's success. All proceeds go toward sustaining the Homegrown Stories project to feature more local farm families in the future!
Please help us spread the word! The presale of the book is happening NOW! We encourage everyone in the community to consider supporting this wonderful student-led project by reserving a copy of the book today.
Don't miss out—reserve your copy now!
Order Link: https://hpsgobs.org/FarmerJack
Let's celebrate Mrs. Benton, Brandy Mincer, and all the hard work of our amazing HMS students!
