About Homegrown Stories

Homegrown Stories is a creative, student-led publishing project that celebrates local farmers through storytelling. Each book in the series is developed in collaboration with middle school students who research agriculture, conduct interviews with local farmers, and take part in the editing and publishing process alongside local author Brandy Mincer.

At the heart of this project is a mission to preserve the voices of local farmers while helping students build essential literacy skills. As students explore what’s grown in their own backyards, they also grow as writers, thinkers, and storytellers—using reading, writing, speaking, and listening to document the lives of those who feed us.

These agriculture-themed children’s books are more than just classroom stories—they’re powerful tools for teaching literacy, science, and community awareness. Each book is aligned with state standards and is designed to support cross-curricular learning in engaging, meaningful ways.

By ordering a book, you’re not only supporting student contributors—you’re helping preserve the agricultural heritage of our region and investing in the next generation of storytellers, scientists, and community leaders.

Purchasing this book benefits:

Students — Gain real-world experience in writing, research, science, and publishing while deepening their understanding of agriculture and its role in our lives.

Local Farmers — Have their stories preserved, honored, and shared with future generations.

Teachers — Receive engaging, student-created books with standards-based lesson plans that support literacy, science, and agricultural education.

Community — Strengthens local pride, builds connections between generations, and fosters appreciation for where our food comes from.

Future Generations — Access meaningful stories that preserve agricultural heritage and inspire curiosity about farming and food systems.

Have questions or want to connect?

Please feel free to email us with any questions about your book order or if you're interested in having us speak at your school, event, or organization.

We'd love to hear from you!  

homegrownstoriesar@hps.k12.ar.us

**ALL PURCHASES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP JANUARY '26**