When Jess Hislop heard two high school kids on her dad's farm discussing how windmills "tell you which way the wind blows", it was a lightning bolt moment.
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Ms Hislop had grown up on her dad's Yeoval farm but at the time of the school kids' visit was unable to help out because she was pregnant with her first child. But she still wanted to do something.
"That was the moment where I thought 'okay, if I can do anything, if I can help out in some way now that I can't work on the farm, I'd love to do something to help kids still learn what farmers do'," Ms Hislop said.
She wrote and illustrated Mr Johnson's Farm - a children's book about her dad Tony Johnson.
It's a photo of Mr Johnson himself, with Ms Hislop's daughter Matilda that won the 2020 Western Magazine photo competition this year.
Ms Hislop said it was a spur-of-the-moment shot. Since she started promoting farm life through her books and social media about four years ago, she's usually got her camera on hand.
"My dad was just down in the paddock checking the crops midway through harvest and my daughters were with him," Ms Hislop said.
"I think dad finds a lot of joy just being around the grandchildren and that makes all the harder times at the farm easier."
And the farmer is getting used to having his photo snapped while working. While initially, Ms Hislop said it was friends and relatives who were buying the Mr Johnson books it's now grown to those looking to educate their children about farm life.
It's a topic she's incredibly passionate about.
However, after finishing school, Ms Hislop said she initially didn't want anything to do with agriculture. She moved to Sydney and spent four years in outdoor recreation.
"It was when I was down there that I realised the country was where I wanted to be."
She undertook a Bachelor of Agriculture and moved to Mudgee with her husband, Ryan.
"I think having my two daughters, I'm starting to realise I do have a really strong passion for agriculture and this road of Mr Johnson's Farm.
"Teaching and educating kids about farming, that's what I love," Ms Hislop said.
"But eventually, down the track, I'd love to get back to working on a farm, or maybe our own property or helping dad out still."
Orlander Ruming
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
