United Egg Producers Announces Support for America’s Heartland Fund for Agriculture Education

Ag organization becomes first to offer support to new fund established by national television series on U.S. agriculture, soon to launch eighth season on PBS and RFD-TV 

Sacramento, CA (2/13/2012) – America’s Heartland today announced United Egg Producers as its first major contributor to the new Fund for Agriculture Education, which was established to help sustain the highly successful national public television and RFD-TV series into an unprecedented eighth season in 2012. The Fund gives organizations and enterprises new opportunities to showcase their support for the only program of its kind celebrating American agriculture. 

“UEP is very proud to support America’s Heartland through its Fund for Agriculture Education,” said Chad Gregory, Senior Vice President of United Egg Producers.  “Connecting with consumers about where their food comes from and who produces is it is a top priority of UEP’s.  I cannot think of any better vehicle to help deliver that message to consumers than America’s Heartland.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to the UEP for their support of the Fund for Agriculture Education,” said Michael Sanford, Vice-President of Content Creation at KVIE Public Television in Sacramento, which produces the series.  “As one of America’s Heartland’s promotional partners, they’ve long provided our production team great insights into U.S. agriculture.  Now, they’ve emerged as the first agricultural organization supporting our Fund.  That support and the support of our major funders allow us to continue telling positive stories about agriculture to a large television and online audience, and help change negative impressions about the hardworking men and women who bring food, fuel and fiber to the nation and the world.” 

The Fund for Ag Education was established in December 2011 to allow additional organizations and enterprises to support America’s Heartland even if their underwriting budgets are more limited.  Fund contributors are invited to donate in increments beginning at $25,000.  That support complements the major funding provided by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Farm Credit, and the United Soybean Board, all current season seven underwriters who have renewed their support for season 8.  All support will be acknowledged at the beginning and end of every one of season 8’s half-hour episodes, which will air at least 44 times on PBS stations and RFD-TV.  Donors also have an important profile on the America’s Heartland website (www.americasheartland.org); unlimited access to High-Definition stories video specific to their industry; and an invitation to participate as Advisory Board members at twice-yearly meetings as well as regular conference calls. 

The first of 22 half-hour episodes of America’s Heartland’s eighth season begin airing on public television stations and RFD-TV the week of September 3, 2012.  For more information on episode schedules and PBS station carriage, go to www.americasheartland.org and www.rfdtv.com.

About United Egg Producers

United Egg Producers (UEP) is a Capper-Volstead cooperative of egg farmers from all across the United States, representing the ownership of approximately 90% of all the nation's egg-laying hens.  Based in Georgia, UEP and their farm members believe in consumer choice, and therefore produce eggs in modern cage, enriched colony cages, cage-free and organic production systems, as well as producing other specialty shell egg products. Their members also provide liquid, dried and other forms of further processed egg products to the retail, food service and food manufacturing sectors.  UEP also has a long history of working with government agencies such as USDA, FDA, EPA and others to solve problems and create programs that will move the U.S. egg industry forward.

About America’s Heartland

Launched in 2005, the award-winning America’s Heartland travels throughout the U.S., introducing non-farm viewers to the men and women who provide the food, fuel, and fiber we use and consume daily.  The half-hour weekly series is seen on more than 230 public television stations (including 19 of the top 25 U.S. markets) as well as the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel.    Many segments are targeted specifically to consumers: Off the Shelf looks at food choices we make at the supermarket; Farm to Fork, with nationally known chef Dave Lieberman, takes consumers from farm fields to farm kitchens for unique recipes; and Harvesting Knowledge explores the rich history of foods we enjoy every day. 

America’s Heartland also examines how technology is changing production and how sustainability and environmental issues are becoming increasingly important to producers and consumers. Overall, including its RFD-TV viewership, the series reaches more than 40 million viewers each season. 

The www.americasheartland.org website gives consumers easy connections to topics, educational resources, search functions and video offerings. To give viewers immediate access to stories and special segments, America’s Heartland has expanded its social networking outreach with updated features and information on Facebook and Twitter.  Video plays an increasingly important role on the America’s Heartland YouTube Channel, currently welcoming more than 90 thousand visitors each month.  The series receives in-kind production support from many prominent agriculture organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association, U.S. Grains Council, American Soybean Association, FFA, National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Cotton Council of America.