ABOVE: Fairmont-area cattle farmer Haley Ammann-Ekstrom, and her sister Hannah bring out a baby calf, Rosie, for students to meet after reading her book "Ruby the Runaway" to Park Side Elementary first-grade students Thursday afternoon in Marshall.

MARSHALL — Haley Ammann-Ekstrom made a venture out from the Fairmont area to visit Park Side Elementary first graders in Marshall on Thursday to share her new illustration book, along with bringing along a special guest– her baby calf.

Students were able to spend an enjoyable afternoon outside in the sun as Ekstrom read her book, titled “Ruby the Runaway,” that recently came out in January.

“I always like to take a calf every year to a school … I have been going around to a bunch of schools reading my book, and then I donate the book to the school library,” Ekstrom said. “I said, ‘OK, I’d love to do something a little extra special for you. (What if) I try to get a calf to school. Would you like to bring a calf if the weather’s nice?”

ABOVE: Ekstrom answers questions after reading her book, “Ruby the Runaway” to Park Side Elementary first-grade students Thursday afternoon in Marshall.

Following the read-aloud, Ekstrom brought out her baby calf, Rosie, and allowed the students to line up one-by-one to meet and pet her.

After each student turned around after meeting Rosie, frequent laughs could be heard and smiles could be seen following the afternoon surprise.

“I was like, OK, this would be a great way to just kind of end the beautiful week and be a nice surprise for the kiddos, especially because a lot of kids don’t live on farms,” Ekstrom said.

“Ruby the Runaway” takes children through the story of the main character, Gertie, realizing that Ruby went missing and goes on a journey to find her again, and then comes across a gentle surprise.

The message of the book Ekstrom portrays is the care and love a person creates with their farm animals, while showing responsibility and patience. It was also illustrated by Bekah Grace.

“It’s my first book, and it’s based off a real cow, Ruby, that my husband and I own together,” Ekstrom said. “It just has been so fun to be able to get in front of kids and just read.”

Ekstrom also noted that March is Ag Literacy Month, with this week being National Agriculture Week, adding to the meaningful read-aloud session the students were able to experience.

“We are located by Fairmont, Minnesota, and I’m a farmer down there. So, we have a bunch of cows, and we calve right now, February, March, April,” Ekstrom said. “The Minnesota Ag in the Classroom, I sit on that board. That’s how I really got involved with classrooms, and then I wrote this book.”

Ekstrom is a sixth-generation cattle farmer, who owns and operates a family farm with her husband in Odin, about 30 minutes outside of Fairmont.

Following the reading, Ekstrom answered several questions from eager students all about her book, farm and cattle.

As Ekstrom mentioned she scheduled the visit with Park Side a month ago, it turned out to be an enjoyable day outside following last weekend’s winter blast that swept through Minnesota, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing.