Documentary honors Colorado ag pioneer Dr. Matsushima

The 2025 Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom literacy project is bringing the story of Dr. John Matsushima to thousands of students through the book Cattle, Corn, and Courage, written by Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman Munsterteiger.

Matsushima, turned 104 in December, is a Japanese American agricultural pioneer whose innovations, such as steam-flaked corn and feed truck concepts, transformed cattle nutrition. His journey, from facing discrimination during World War II to earning advanced degrees and becoming a leader in animal science, exemplifies resilience and innovation.

This year’s literacy project is set to reach 50,000 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade — twice as many as last year. It includes a classroom read-aloud of the book, vocabulary lessons, interactive worksheets, and a Q&A activity that ties into Colorado’s academic standards. Students will engage with themes such as perseverance, friendship, and problem-solving while learning about the state’s rich agricultural history.

To complement the book, a short documentary on Matsushima’s life was released this week, produced by Western Ag Network.