PHOTO BY ISABEL POULIN

A Highland cow is a distinctive breed of cattle originating in the Scottish Highlands. These beautiful creatures have a long, shaggy coat that helps protect them from the harsh winters in Scotland and large curved horns used for foraging and defense. Despite their rugged appearance, Highlands are generally very gentle and docile, and it is their fluffy coats and expressive faces that give them a distinctive charm, making them beloved farm animals.

Zach Steiger and his family have many animals on their farm in Columbia, Tennessee, but it was his Highland bull that sparked Steiger’s inspiration for an unexpected and meaningful journey. Dreaming about what to do next while he was in the midst of a job transition, his wife, Brittany, suggested he write a children’s book. Stieger’s reply was, “I literally have no desire to write a kid’s book.” Famous last words!

As he began thinking about the idea and exploring the concept of writing a book, it gradually started to grow on him. The first spark of inspiration came while he was out feeding the farm animals. As he pondered a little deeper, the main character emerged, Hank, his rescued Highland bull, now a year and a half old. With more thought given to the storyline, he decided he wanted to incorporate his three girls and their shared love of dance, which led to the creation of the three ballerina characters. “They are not identical to my girls, but it adds another layer to the book and excitement for my daughters,” Steiger said. 

As the storyline and characters were developed, the story concept took on a lot of personality as Hank the Highland and the Three Ballerinas came to life. Hank the Highland bull lives on a picturesque farm in Columbia, surrounded by his animal friends and loving humans. When Hank sees the ballerinas dancing, he wants to dance too. When Hank isn’t practicing his ballet moves, he enjoys munching on hay, soaking up the sunshine, and letting out the occasional cheerful moo.

Steiger’s book was a challenging journey for him, but a very positive experience. “With these types of projects, a lot of getting started is figuring out the process, which I’ve always loved to do,” he explained. “Things like finding an illustrator and how to print the book. Do you use a publisher or print directly? It’s been a fun experiment exploring all the different creative elements from that side of the industry.”

This book also gave Steiger a way to positively connect with his daughters and their dance through the ballerinas. “I’ve really loved how this was a fun way to be able to celebrate the girls in their dance and their passion for it,” Steiger said. “There aren’t always a lot of ways that dads can connect with their daughters around the idea of dance. When the girls have a recital, Mom does most of it. Mom helps with the makeup, mom helps with the outfits, and I carry the bags or whatever else is needed.” 

The first copies of the 8” x 8” board book, featuring colorful illustrations, arrived in June 2025 and are the perfect storybook for Pre-K through 2nd grade. When Steiger is not working his full-time job, he takes the opportunity to share Hank with younger kids by reading the book at live events. The first one was at Needle & Grain in Columbia, and he plans on doing school readings in the fall. Along with the book, Steiger offers the cutest plush stuffed animal of Hank and stickers.