September 15, 2011 at 3:49 p.m.
A page at a time....
JUMPIN' JACKIE, THE COW THAT JUMPED OVER THE MOON
by Jack May
On Fernvale Farm in the rolling hills of rural Mineral Point, Jumpin' Jackie the calf dreams of jumping - not becoming a top milk producer like her mother. Jumpin' Jackie, The Cow That Jumped Over The Moon is a delightful new children's book that draws from author Jack May's childhood and life experiences. Jumpin' Jackie dreams big and learns what she can achieve as a result.
It was important to Jack to have this book produced locally. It was published and designed by Little Creek Press in Mineral Point, illustrated and printed all in Wisconsin.
Jack May was born and raised in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1955-1956 and then worked as a beef herdsman for the University from 1957-1960. He then joined Kent Feeds Junior Feeder Department and spent most of his time working with 4-H and FFA members conducting cattle fitting and grooming schools and attending fairs and livestock shows to help coach young exhibitors. Jack moved his way up the ranks of Kent feeds and in 1994 was named President, a title he held until he retired in 2002.
Jack has served on many boards over the years and has been honored by a number of organizations. He was on the board of the National FFA Foundation and was awarded FFA's highest award, the Honorary American Farmer Degree in 1998. Jack is donating a portion of the proceeds from the book Jumpin' Jackie, The Cow That Jumped Over The Moon to the National 4-H Council and the National FFA Foundation to help these organizations continue to develop the youth of America.
Jack has also been a generous supporter of the Mineral Point Public Library. He has a strong belief in the youth of America and hopes this book will encourage them to work hard like Jumpin' Jackie.
Jumpin' Jackie, The Cow That Jumped Over The Moon, comes to life with Wisconsin based illustrator Jeremy Provost's charming illustrations. Jeremy Provost was born and currently resides in Oconomowoc. He received a Bachelor Degree in Illustration from Indiana Wesleyan University and has a constant desire to inspire imagination in a younger audience.
Review
"The author of this book has enjoyed the American Dream from farm boy in Wisconsin, to the pinnacle of the corporate world in the livestock feed industry, to a happily retired senior and grandfather. Jack May's life has contained success, failure, tragedy and great happiness. Early and often in his life, however, he had the good fortune to have parents and acquaintances that instilled the value of hard work and a never give up attitude. Through Jumpin' Jackie, The Cow That Jumped Over The Moon Jack May looks to pass that favor forward to young children so they too can experience the joy of the American Dream." - Gage A. Kent, Chairman and CEO of Muscatine Foods Corporation.
Book signing
Author Jack May and illustrator Jeremy Provost will be at a book signing Saturday, September 17th. It will be held from 2 - 4 p.m. at Foundry Books, 105 Commerce Street, Mineral Point.
For more information about this book, to preview a pdf copy, or to schedule an interview with Jack May, please call 608.987.3370 or email littlecreekpress@hughes.net.
NOTE: "A Page at a Time..." is a new column in The Dodgeville Chronicle. It features local authors and their works.
