Northern Michigan cherry grower pens children’s book on elections, bullying

Ben LaCross is a farmer, a leader in the agriculture industry, a small business owner, and now author. With that same passion, LaCross is educating children and teaching lessons surrounding the election process while also sharing the story of school age bullying.

Ben LaCross

“In the fall of 2018, Michigan was in the midst of electing a new governor. My son, then age 11, asked me questions about elections, government, and politics. We had incredible conversations about those important issues.  Keaton and I had just finished reading a middle grade book together, so I looked for a relatable book about politics and elections for him. I assumed that there must be a fun, entertaining, and educational book that could help him understand these topics while also teaching him the values we want to raise him with.  After much research I realized there were no books like that available,” LaCross said in a news release. “So I wrote the book I wanted him to read,” said Ben.

“Tucker For President” is a book for children ages 8-14 to help them understand the confusing election talk they will hear in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. This quick, funny chapter book is great for the independent reader or for the family who wants to engage with their children.

It is LaCross’s hope that this book will be a tool parents and educators can use to help children understand the history of politics in today’s environment.

About the Book

Tucker Kirkman is the new kid, and on the first day of school, the class bully Greyson, humiliates Tucker in front of the whole sixth grade class. Greyson treats the other classmates the same way.  Worse yet, he’s the class president. And no one will challenge him.

But Tucker’s friends see something in him. They believe that he can the leader who beats Greyson and becomes the next class president. Throughout the election cycle, Tucker learns lessons about America’s Founding Fathers, conservative values, and what it means to be a leader. Greyson, however, is willing to do anything to keep his power in the school.

Is Tucker brave enough to stand up to the biggest bully Ben Franklin Middle School has ever seen? Can he learn what it takes to become class president?  Is he the leader that his classmates have been looking for?

About the Author

Ben LaCross is a cherry farmer from Northern Michigan. The fruit he and his family grow is used in some of the most premium cherry ice cream, fruitcakes, pies and dried cherry mixtures in America. Ben and his family own and operate fruit-processing and related businesses within the cherry industry.

LaCross is a champion for farmers and rural communities across the country. A graduate of Central Michigan University, he was elected to represent all American young farmers as the chair of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee in 2011. He has served on the board of directors for the Michigan Farm Bureau since 2012. In 2016, LaCross  was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to Michigan’s 21st Century Infrastructure Commission to design the infrastructure system of the future for Michigan. He was also selected as a McCloy Fellow for Agriculture in 2016, representing the United States in Germany.

LaCross’s writing, mainly about agriculture, has been featured in national newspapers and trade publications. He is passionate about where our food comes from and who produces it, and he has spoken throughout the country on the importance of young farmers getting engaged in local decision-making.

LaCross and his wife, Kelsey, met on a cherry farm and now raising their three children on a cherry farm in Leelanau County near Traverse City, Michigan the Cherry Capital of the World. LaCross continues his passion to help children by coaching youth soccer, baseball,and basketball.

The book may be purchased online at www.benlacrossbooks.com or by visiting Amazon.com.