A South Australian book series is marking five years in partnership with Rabobank this August, with Children’s Book Week taking place from August 22 to 28.

The series of educational children’s books is called George the Farmer, and they are created, illustrated, and printed here in South Australia. Written by SA author Simone Kain, the series features 14 books about various aspects of farm life.

In addition to the books, the brand includes virtual reality experiences, music, performances and paddock-to-plate videos. The series is designed to teach children about where their food comes from while also being fun and engaging. So far, the partnership has donated over 7,000 George the Farmer books across the country.

To celebrate the milestone, 100 educational institutions across Australia will be awarded a set of all 14 books. Additionally, five schools will receive an online “Meet the Author” session with Simone Kain.

According to the author, it’s crucial children learn how the clothes they wear and the food they eat come into existence.

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“Every child eats food, and they all wear fibre, but many don’t get the chance to really see how those things are grown or made,” she said.

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“And if we can help kids understand that connection early, it builds respect for farmers and curiosity about the natural world, and it plants the seed for future careers in agriculture as well.”

Kain – who co-founded the George the Farmer business with SA Liberal Senator Ben Hood – came up with the idea for the series when bringing up her own son, also named George.

“It was inspired by my son George, when he was two and a half, I couldn’t find any thing for him farming base that was telling the real story of Australian agriculture,” she said.

“It was just ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’, and he collected the eggs and milked the cow by hand. And that was really all that was shown that happened in agriculture. And so I thought there was this great opportunity to create a character that could inspire lots of little farm kids like my son George, but also to educate those that don’t have a connection to where food and fibre comes from.”

Kain says the platform and series have been so successful because of their usefulness to educators.

“There’s not another educational platform really like this. I call it edutainment, because it’s educational, but it’s entertaining as well. We received great feedback from parents and teachers that the books are especially useful for reluctant readers,” she said.

“It’s just an easy way to get kids interested in food and fibre. So I think that’s really resonated, especially with people in the agricultural sector, because the ag sector is always crying out to tell their story, and this is a way to get kids learning about it from a young age.”

George the Farmer is a fundamentally South Australian series, and Kain says she’s very proud of that, even as her books travel to the US and the rest of the world.

“I’m really proud that the picture story books are illustrated, written and printed here in South Australia. I think it’s important to support local when you can,” she said.

“It’s always been a goal of mine for George the Farmer and his agronomist wife Ruby to be sort of like the poster farmers of agriculture across the globe. And I think the US market is obviously a great opportunity.”

Kain says she has plenty planned for the future of George the Farmer.

“I also want to go into middle grade literature, so sort of expanding, I guess, the age footprint of the George the Farmer fan. So, yeah, more, more books, and hopefully some physical educational packs to go out to schools as well, and more videos.”

Schools interested in the George the Farmer giveaway may enter at Rabobank’s website. Entries close on June 16.