THE creation of likeable cartoon character - George the Farmer - has seen Penola businesswoman Simone Kain named the Rural/Regional Entrepreneur of the Year at the third annual Australian NAB Women's Agenda Leadership Awards last week in Sydney.
Mrs Kain has been recognised for educating Australian children on farming practices and food and fibre production, through the fun character that she and co-creator Ben Hood, from Hello Friday, created.
The cartoon was launched in July last year as an interactive app and quickly became the number one book on iTune charts, with its story teaching children about planting wheat crops, as well as a sing-a-long song, and interactive games.
A softcover book was released in December to rave reviews.
Their biggest coup came late last year when George the Farmer was written into the Australian Schools Curriculum.
Mrs Kain says the survey results released by the Australian Council of Educational Research in 2012 were one of the main drivers for creating George the Farmer.
" The survey revealed that 75 per cent of Australian Year 6 students believed cotton socks came from animals and 45pc could not identify that everyday lunchbox items such as a banana, bread or cheese originated from farms," she said.
"The main aim of George the Farmer is to bridge this gap in knowledge."
- CATHERINE MILLER