The Happy Ranch Wife Shares Love Of Ag

Somewhere from the clamor of early mornings at the barn emerged a children’s book and a mission to bring ag education to Montana students.

“You’d go up to the barn, and this big commotion would just carry on. And I just kept thinking there’s a story here; who could write it?” said Tammi Fladager, creator of Happy Rach Wife Productions.

One day, the story came into focus, she started drawing, and before she knew it “The Noisy Ranch” was finished.

“I have a book. Now what do I do,” Fladager recalled thinking once she finished.

Fast forward two years, and she has four published books: The Noisy Ranch, Koltiska’s Pumpkin Patch, What Do Ranchers Do? and Carol Drives a Tractor, and there’s no more doubt about whether she’s supposed to be the author.

“When you figure out what your gift is and you use it, the time on the clock doesn’t matter at all. It’s so rewarding,” she said.

Although agriculture has been a thread throughout her life, it wasn’t until 2017, when Fladager and her husband, Curtis, moved to Peerless, that ag became central in her adult life. The couple made the move pursuing Curtis’ dream to be a full-time rancher near where he grew up.

“Because I’ve lived both lives, and I see the disconnect on both sides. I just believe that that conversation needs to take place not on a soapbox, but it needs to be part of life,” Fladager said. “And that’s what I want to facilitate through my books.”

To help educate more people about ag, Fladager has been traveling the state, reading and gifting her books to students. A $2,500 grant from Montana Farmers Union Foundation has helped cover the costs.

The MFU Foundation grant provided an emotional boost as well.

“I like my books a lot and believe in the mission, but to hear someone else say, ‘We really like what you’re doing, and we want to support you,’ is really good,” she said.

The grant was Fladager’s first connection with Montana Farmers Union, and she since has attended Women’s Conference and said she is now a member for life after experiencing the grassroots community of people passionate about agriculture and rural life that MFU fosters. “MFU really does care about the producers,” she said, adding MFU literally puts its money where its mouth is.

Because of the MFU Foundation grant, Fladager has travelled to four schools, as well as delivered or mailed books to another 18 schools, and even visited with the Montana Association of County Superintendents of Schools.

Her books open the door to conversations about ag from the origin of chocolate milk to what happens if no one collects the chicken’s eggs to how food gets from the farm to the table. “Even if they go off to be a dentist, they’ll still have that background and have that awareness of where our food comes from.”

Currently, Fladager is working on several books geared toward pre-teens and teenagers, as well as honing her skills as an artist.

Continuing to write, illustrate, and promote her books to wider audiences is intimidating until she remembers her own advice that getting started is the toughest part. “The biggest advice I have is: You can try to ignore that calling, that gift. You can try. But the more you ignore it, the more dissatisfied you’re going to be. You’ve got to follow it. It’s not your gift to throw away. It’s so rewarding and fulfilling to follow that and do what you’re supposed to do.”

Fladager says she wants to empower children to “do what pulls your heart” with lessons from the farm that go deeper than the logistics of farming to the very core of rural communities’ success, including don’t put off what can be done today for tomorrow.

For example, “Carol’s Tractor” tells the story of a woman doing a non-traditional role on her farm.

“It’s empowering. It’s not about gender. It’s about you have a hand, help!” Fladager said.

Friction between urban and rural is likely to continue, but sharing agriculture through her books will help bridge the divide.

“I’m not by any means the solution,” Fladager said. “I’m just hoping to be the catalyst for the person who will make the difference.”