AUTHOR Alice Mabin has recently finished a year-long journey around regional and rural Australia, documenting the diversity of our country's many agricultural sectors.
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The talented photographer and agriculture advocate has now published her collection of stories and images in her new two volume book set The Grower.
Mabin's incredible mission also brought her to the Upper Hunter, with local photos featured in the set, including images of a beef cattle property at Ellerston.
Now the books are being shared with hundreds of students around Australia, including Scone Public, Scone High and Scone Grammar School, in the hope they learn to have a greater appreciation for where their food and fibre comes from.
The donations come as a result of agricultural magnate John Nicoletti, who purchased 4,000 books to donate to schools with an aim of educating our youth and highlighting the role of Aussie primary producers.
This week 2000 schools across every state and territory in Australia received a set of Alice Mabin's beautifully presented The Grower series - each valued at $200 - representing the largest private donation to the education system.
Mr Nicoletti, who grew up in a marginal area in the wheat belt of WA, said he's probably seen more droughts than good years but still managed to "put together a big chunk of land".
"I want to encourage our young people," he said.
"If we can give 10 or 50 or 100 people the inspiration to get out there and have a real crack - this is what it's about."
Author Alice Mabin took to social media to facilitate the books' dispersion, and teachers, families and businesses big and small got behind the project, helping to cover freight costs to each school.
Martins Transport covered the cost of freight for 133 schools across Australia to receive the books.
"I saw the passion and perseverance that Aussie growers put into their animals and produce, but I also saw the disconnect between this industry and the people who are fed and clothed because of it," Mabin said.
"I knew I needed to somehow bridge that divide between those who are involved and those who aren't, the country and the city, and get recognition for our farmers and John took it one step further by making sure as many school kids as possible can get their hands on these books.
"Ag is the heart of our country, and with these books, school kids will get a better understanding of how and why that is."