BOOK WEEK 2026 PUTS AGRICULTURE INTO YOUNG HANDS

Auburn Primary School principal Skye Irwin receiving a George the Farmer book pack from Rabo Client Council member Claire Catford. IMAGE: Rabobank

As Book Week 2026 gets underway, Rabobank is helping put Australian agriculture into the hands of young readers through its partnership with agricultural education and storybook series George the Farmer.

The Rabo Community Fund has awarded 100 schools and early learning centres across Australia the full collection of 14 George the Farmer books (1,400 books in total), helping children learn more about agriculture and where their food and fibre comes from.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative attracted almost 180 applications from schools and early learning centres across the country.

Rabobank community engagement manager Skye Ward says the books help children understand where their food and fibre comes from, while strengthening connections between rural and urban communities.

Among this year’s recipients is Auburn Primary School in South Australia’s Clare Valley, where many students come from farming families or have connections to agriculture.

Principal Skye Irwin says the books will help foster a love of reading while allowing students to see their families and community reflected in the stories.

A new feature this year will give one school in each state the opportunity to take part in a live online “Meet the Author” session with George the Farmer founder Simone Kain.

The partnership has now distributed more than 8,000 George the Farmer books to schools, while the Rabo Community Fund has invested more than four million dollars in community initiatives since launching in 2021.