DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- Connie Rohloff isn't afraid to color outside the lines, particularly when it comes to telling agriculture's story. The Krakow, Wisconsin, artist has combined a lifetime of working around the farm and a love of the lifestyle into a collection of coloring books designed for all ages.

It all started when Rohloff developed a love for photography. Seldom without her camera, Rohloff began selling some of the images through a stock photo business.

"Recently, I realized I had a large inventory of photos and I wanted to share more of them because they tell a story about agriculture and the people involved in it," said Rohloff.

"These aren't cartoon images, nor are they artificially designed. I think that's an important distinction. These coloring books are different because they have been transformed from real-life farm imagery from my lens," she told DTN.

The process turned out to be a bit more challenging than she imagined. Coloring pages are best derived from photos with strong, clean lines. That meant meticulous removal of distracting details while retaining enough to make the image interesting and realistic. She used various computer programs to accomplish the task and occasionally touched up with hand drawing.

"There was definitely some trial and error in making them come to life," she said. "I had some pictures that I loved that just didn't translate well into a line drawing."

"Animals of the Farmyard, Gentle Days: is more suitable for younger age colorists. It features large size drawings. Farm animals -- from kittens to kids to cows and pigs -- are captured in authentic moments of eating, playing and resting.

"Harvest: From Fields to Bin" focuses on scenes commonly seen around farms, fields and furrows. This coloring book covers the full farming cycle -- from working the field to emerging crops to harvesting and binning the grain.

"The idea was to show children where their food begins and to celebrate the rhythms of the land," Rohloff said. "I also wanted to show everyday moments that often go unnoticed."

Machinery-loving farm kids will undoubtedly recognize the type of equipment and possibly, the actual make and model numbers. Tractors, sprayers and combines romp across the pages. Rohloff noted that the images are brand neutral -- each artist is free to give those implements a coat of their favorite color.

Corn spikes. Corn tassels. Soybeans set pods. Farm bins, barns and semis all get a nod.

A separate version of this harvest book comes with spiritual verses devoted to the agricultural scene or season. "I decided to offer this option because it takes a lot of faith to be a farmer," Rohloff said.

"Growing up on a farm, I never saw coloring books that truly reflected what farm life actually looked like," she noted. "I wanted to create something that not only inspires creativity but also helps people -- especially kids -- learn and connect with agriculture in a real and meaningful way."

She hopes the coloring books will open up the world of agriculture to those who don't often get an insider view.

"Maybe all they know about farming is getting stuck behind a big tractor on the highway. These pictures show farmers working together as a family. I hope it allows those coloring the pages to gain an understanding that a tractor represents a farmer that needs to get to the field and back home safely and that he's planting and growing our food," she said.

Finding a printer that would produce a quality product was another hurdle. Rohloff eventually partnered with Barnes and Noble to print and distribute the books. Printing on demand allowed her to avoid the expense of a large inventory, but those ordering should be aware it can introduce a short wait time for orders. There are gift shipping options available. Each 45-page book sells for $14.99. Find them here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…

The project has introduced Rohloff to things she didn't have to know when she worked as a dairy herdsman or driving tractors on a cash grain farm -- such as ISBN (International Standard Book Number) numbers and barcodes to track inventory.

But she said having experienced agricultural jobs first-hand enhances her photography because she understands the movements of both humans and machines. That translates to the coloring book effort, too.

"I like being creative and this was a different way for me to explore that and promote something I care about," Rohloff said.

Want to do a test run? Find a free coloring book page at www.crinspirations.org

Find a DTN story about tractor-related coloring books at https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @PamSmithDTN

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