Living in the South Dakota countryside in the 1930s and 1940s meant every family member had a job, or multiple jobs, to help their family function and provide for themselves. L. Dale Redlin explains his daily chore: "I was the official cow chip gatherer . . . it was my job to keep [the cow chip box] full." Twenty-five episodes from Redlin's boyhood paint a portrait of everyday life on the farm and also share some of the lessons he learned over the years from these events. His main purpose for writing this book is to remind future generations of how life used to be, hopefully instilling in them a greater appreciation for the blessings of today. It Takes Cow Chips to Make Dinner appeals to and resonates with readers of all ages. Young children will enjoy reading about life a century ago, and the "older folk" will appreciate the similarities between the book and their own childhood.