Guest Blogger Emma Likens Attends the AFA Animal Institute in Kansas City

I grew up helping my dad on the farm and showing hogs at the county fair every summer. I was active

in FFA during high school, where I learned how to process a pork loin as part of an ag demonstration team. Did I mention I also love bacon? Hogs are my background, and my knowledge of other areas of the agricultural industry is rather limited. As an agricultural journalism major, it’s important for me to have a basic understanding of all areas. So when given the chance to attend the AFA Animal Institute in Kansas City, I looked forward to learning about other sectors of the livestock industry.

The Institute started with a welcome and overview of the animal health corridor from Kim Young, Vice President of Bioscience Development at the Kansas City Area Development Council. We also heard advice and insight from an executive panel, consisting of Albrecht Kissel, President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., Daryl Pint, CEO of Ceva Biomune, Scott Bormann, Vice President US Commercial Operations of Merck Animal Health, and Kostas Kontopanos, US President of Hill’s Pet Nutrition. We wrapped up the night with the Animal Industry World Café, which was a series of roundtable discussions to help students get to know each other and better understand issues related to animal health.

The next morning we split up into groups to visit animal health related businesses within the Kansas City area. My group visited Fleishman-Hillard for a delicious bagel breakfast, U.S. Premium Beef, Dairy Farmers of America for lunch and finished our tours at Ceva. These tours were a great way to learn more about each of these supporters of the animal health industry and pick their brains about current and future issues within the industry. We also were able to learn about internship programs and job opportunities, which was my favorite part.

Industry tour highlights include:

• Fleishman-Hillard considers themselves “farm to fork specialists.” They work where the food and agriculture worlds overlap. This is where I want my future career to be as well.
• U.S. Premium Beef promotes all American beef products, including leather.
• Dairy Farmers of America owns several processing plants, but they don’t just make ice cream and milk. They make salsa too!
• Ceva is the third largest producer of poultry vaccinations. As their CEO, Daryl Pint, shared with us after our tour, “Horizons are limitless for those who fear less about the risk of failure than the opportunity of success.”

All the groups joined back together at the American Royal Complex for a reception and dinner. The keynote speaker was, Forrest Roberts, CEO of the National Cattelmen’s Beef Association, who spoke about building trust and growth. While his examples were specific to the beef industry, his words were something we could all learn from. He encouraged us to think about what we want our legacy and impact to be, and to “do everything you can with everything you have and learn from it.”

The final day of the Animal Institute featured speakers who helped us apply what we learned during our previous panels and industry tours. Kevin Murphy from Food Chain Communications spoke about the food morality movement, and how activist groups are using emotion to sway consumers. He encouraged us as students to become the moral defenders of agriculture on our campuses and in our communities. Agriculture has a great story to tell, based on morals and ethics, and it’s our job to share it.

We then heard from a panel of experts on niche marketing in agriculture, hosted by Julie Mettenburg, the Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center. The panel consisted of Joe Bichelmeyer, owner of Bichelmeyer Meats, Melissa Reed, Marketing and Plant Manager at Hildebrand Farms Dairy, Dr. Kerby Weaver, DVM at Wilhite & Frees Equine Hospital, and Ken Williams, Director of Food Chain Coordination for the National Pork Board. Together, the panelists helped paint a picture of all the different ways agriculture can meet consumer demands through niche marketing.

The institute was a great way to learn about other areas of the livestock industry outside the classroom. It was also a good opportunity to expand both my professional and peer network, and meet other students just as passionate about agriculture as I am, many of which I’ll see again at AFA Leaders Conference in November.  

About the Author: Emma Likens is an AFA Campus Ambassador who is finishing her sophomore year at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln studying Agricultural Journalism.

About AFA

AFA’s mission is to create partnerships that identify, encourage and support outstanding college men and women who are preparing for careers in the agriculture and food industry. With student participation increasing 70 percent in the last five years, AFA leader development programs have impacted 9,000 college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1996. AFA has awarded more than $8 million in academic and leader development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit www.agfuture.org or contact Megan Karlin at megan.karlin@agfuture.org.

America’s Heartland Season Returns for Another Season with New Reporters, Features and Expanded Social Media

Award-winning public television series on U.S. agriculture launches 8^th season by welcoming former California Country reporter Kristin Simoes and CNET celebrity Sharon Vaknin; season 7 funders Farm Credit, United Soybean Board, and American Farm Bureau Foundation renew their support

Sacramento, CA. (8/1/2012) – KVIE Public Television, producers of America’s Heartland, announced new consumer features, themed episodes, and new hosts as it premieres an unprecedented eighth season of the public television series celebrating U.S. agriculture starting the week of September 10th, 2012.

During season 8’s twenty-two new episodes, veteran reporters Jason Shoultz, Sarah Gardner and Rob Stewart are joined by Sharon Vaknin, video host and editor at CNET and a popular online chef. Sharon debuts in episode 801 as the host of Farm to Fork, where she introduces viewers to real-life farmers or ranchers to learn about the products they grow or raise. Together, Sharon and her guests then prepare some delicious dishes using those same ingredients. All of the recipes will be posted on the America’s Heartland website (americasheartland.org).

The expanded reporting team is also joined by Kristin Simoes, longtime anchor, reporter, and most recently correspondent for California Country, a TV series focusing on California agriculture. At least three special themed episodes are planned for season 8, including Dawn to Dusk, where viewers take an intimate look at a full day in the lives of a farm or ranch family; Dairy Duel, where cheese makers from Wisconsin and California vie for supremacy in their craft; and Classy Cowgirls, where viewers go on a photo shoot to discover how ranching meets high fashion.

Other new and returning features planned for America’s Heartland’s eighth season include Agriculture 101, where consumers ask (and get answers to) all kinds of questions about agriculture; Off the Shelf, which looks at food choices we make at the supermarket; and Harvesting Knowledge, which explores the fascinating history of foods we enjoy every day.

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 240 public television stations, including stations in 21 of the top 25 U.S. markets.

America’s Heartland also examines how technology is changing production and how sustainability and environmental issues are becoming increasingly important to producers and consumers.

The 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.

In November 2011, Farm Credit announced its renewed season 8 funding support for America’s Heartland, the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture. Farm Credit was joined shortly afterwards by the two other major funders from last season, the United Soybean Board and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. On June 21 of this year, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Association joined United Egg Producers as supporters of the Fund for Agriculture Education, created by KVIE to allow organizations to support America’s Heartland at funding levels ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

America’s Heartland also 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.

For more information on episode schedules on PBS stations and RFD-TV, go to americasheartland.org and rfdtv.com. Additional information is available by contacting Series Producer Jim Finnerty at (916) 641-3516 or jfinnerty@kvie.org. 

Kelly and Kevin's Wyoming and South Dakota Adventure

Kelly and Kevin's Wyoming and South Dakota Adventure, a set on Flickr.

Our journey through the beautiful Wyoming and South Dakota countryside is almost over as we wait for our flight home to Sacramento.

The 11-day trip started in Cheyenne with Photojournalist Kevin Burke and me. Our first shoot was in Huntley, WY at a winery. We stayed in the small town of Torrington, WY for three days. It was mainly our hub because we had three shoots that were anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours away from Torrington.

Our meals out In Torrington were mainly at the Deacon, which serves great salads by the way. It was conveniently located across the street from our hotel. Besides the winery we visited a feedlot in Pine Bluffs and a family wheat farm in Torrington.

After we wrapped up in Torrington we headed to Buffalo, WY. Wow, is this town beautiful. We shot a story on goat grazing at a family ranch that was about 20 minutes out of town. This was by far the hottest day of the trip. It got to 105 degrees that day. Wyoming is really dry. I’m told the state only had about an inch of rain since January 2012 and it’s now July.

After we wrapped in Buffalo we headed to Sundance, WY. We stayed in the town of Gillette, which is about an hour away. It’s a fun little town. We visited the Livingston Ranch. What a great family and story. The area is gorgeous. Our final stop was in Rapid City, South Dakota. This was certainly one of the bigger towns we visited. The population is about 67,000 according to some of the local farmers I asked.

Timber!!!!!!!!! You got it. We did a story on timber with the Timber Baker Family. It was amazing to see some of those big ponderosa pines fall to the ground. As always, I am blessed to travel the country and let our farmers and ranchers tell their story about what it's like working the land.

Kelly Peterson
America's Heartland Field Producer

Via Flickr:
Shooting stories for season 8!

America’s Heartland Welcomes CNET Personality Sharon Vaknin as Host of Farm to Fork Segments in Upcoming New Season

Sacramento, CA (7/2/2012) – As it prepares its September launch of its eighth season, America’s Heartland today announced that Sharon Vaknin, video host and editor at CNET and a popular online chef, will debut as the series’ new Farm to Fork reporter.

“We’re excited to welcome Sharon as the latest addition to the Heartland team,” said Michael Sanford, Vice-President of Content Creation at KVIE Public Television, which produces America’s Heartland. “Sharon’s tech-savvy background, combined with her love of cooking and social media skills, will help us share the fun and informative Farm to Fork segments with an even larger broadcast and internet audience.”

Farm to Fork was created as a semi-regular feature on America’s Heartland back in 2010. Viewers are introduced to a real-life farmer or rancher to learn about the products they grow or raise. Together, Sharon and her guest then prepare some delicious dishes using those same ingredients. All of the recipes are posted on the America’s Heartland website (www.americasheartland.org). Sharon will also

share recipes with her large online followers on Flavorcraft, her YouTube channel, and will create a regular blog about the segments.

 “I can’t wait to share my love of cooking with America’s Heartland’s large broadcast audience as well as my online followers,” said Sharon. “My goal is to introduce more people to this excellent series about U.S. agriculture, while hopefully providing some tasty and easy-to-make new recipes that use some of our nation’s wonderful food products.”

In addition to her new Farm to Fork duties, Sharon covers technology tutorials and guides at CNET, the popular online channel. With her geek knowledge and a knack for layman’s terms, she shows the tech-savvy and tech-phobic how to make the most of their personal gadgets. She has appeared as a tech expert on The Today Show, CBS News, NPR, CBS Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, and ABC Bay Area.

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 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 240 public television stations (including 21 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; Agriculture 101 answers consumers’ questions about agriculture; 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. America’s Heartland has also expanded its social networking outreach with updated features and information on Facebook and Twitter. The America’s Heartland YouTube channel currently draws 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.

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.

America’s Heartland Announces New Fund for Agriculture Education for Season 8

Washington, D.C. (12/5/2011) – At their annual Fall Advisory Board meeting in the nation’s capital last week, America’s Heartland announced the establishment of the new Fund for Agriculture Education, designed to sustain the highly successful national PBS and RFD-TV series into an unprecedented eighth season in 2012. The Fund will also give ag organizations new opportunities to showcase their own support for the only program of its kind celebrating American agriculture. 

“We’re delighted to establish this Fund for Agriculture Education, which we believe will benefit both agriculture and non-farm consumers,” said Michael Sanford, Vice-President of Content Creation at KVIE Public Television in Sacramento, which produces the series.  “First, it allows the many agricultural organizations that support America’s Heartland to do so even if their underwriting budgets are more limited.  And, the Fund allows us to continue telling positive stories about agriculture to a vast 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.”

Fund contributors are invited to donate in increments beginning at $25,000.  Their support will be acknowledged at the beginning and end of every one of the season 8 half-hour episodes, which will air at least 44 times on PBS stations and RFD-TV.  Donors will 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 announcement follows renewed America’s Heartland season 8 funding support from Farm Credit, which made that announcement two weeks earlier at the 2011 National Association of Farm Broadcasters event in Kansas City. Farm Credit became the first sponsor to renew support of the weekly series, which is seen on more than 240 public television stations as well as the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel.   

For the current season 7, Farm Credit’s funding support is joined by the United Soybean Board and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.  The first of 22 half-hour episodes of America’s Heartland’s seventh season began airing on public television stations and RFD-TV the week of September 5, 2011.  While most stations will begin airing season 8 in September 2012, production on the new season will begin as early as this December.   (For more information on episode schedules and PBS station carriage, go to www.americasheartland.org and www.rfdtv.com).

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.  Many segments are targeted specifically to consumers: Off the Shelf looks at food choices we make at the supermarket; Fast Facts about Food reveals the nutritional benefits in many agricultural products; 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. Currently, the series is seen in 20 of the top 25 television markets and on more than 240 PBS stations covering 60% of the U.S.  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. 

Farm Credit Renews Support for America's Heartland

Underwriting support of season eight enables more award-winning programming to connect the nation's agriculture producers with millions of non-farm consumers

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 10 - America’s Heartland (www.AmericasHeartland.org) announced today that Farm Credit (www.FarmCredit.com) has committed to renew its underwriting support for season eight of the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture. This is Farm Credit’s second season to underwrite the program viewed on more than 240 public television stations as well as the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel.

“Farm Credit’s partnership with America’s Heartland has been mutually beneficial and we are excited to continue with another season,” said Christina Bowen, national contributions director for Farm Credit. “America’s Heartland offers excellent programming that aligns in so many ways with our mission of support to agriculture and rural America and honors farmers and ranchers while sharing their positive stories with the public.”

In addition to underwriting season seven and season eight, Farm Credit will soon be providing valuable multimedia resources for visitors to AmericasHeartland.org through an educational video series called aGROWnomics. aGROWnomics will allow Farm Credit experts to share information about the economics of agriculture and how it affects farmers and consumers.

“Farm Credit has been an outstanding partner for our seventh season and our ongoing relationship allows KVIE to continue exploring and sharing the contributions that American agriculture makes to our communities, the economy and the world,” said Michael Sanford, vice-president of content creation at KVIE Public Television in Sacramento, which produces the series.

Additional season seven underwriters include the United Soybean Board and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The America’s Heartland seventh season began airing on public television stations and RFD-TV in September 2011. While most stations will begin airing season eight in September 2012, production on the new season will begin as early as this December. For more information on episode schedules and PBS station carriage, go to www.americasheartland.org and www.rfdtv.com.

About America’s Heartland
Award-winning America’s Heartland has been introducing non-farm viewers to the men and women who provide the food, fuel, and fiber we use and consume since 2005. Currently, the series is available in 20 of the top 25 television markets on more than 240 PBS stations covering 60 percent of the United States. Including its RFD-TV viewership, the series reaches more than 40 million viewers each season. In-kind production support is provided by 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. Visit AmericasHeartland.org to view episodes and access educational resources and complementary video series offerings.

About Farm Credit: Lending Support to Rural America
For 95 years, Farm Credit has been a national provider of credit and related services to rural America through a cooperative network of customer-owned lending institutions and specialized service organizations. Created by Congress in 1916, the Farm Credit System provides more than $175 billion in loans and leases to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, aquatic producers, timber harvesters, agribusinesses, and agricultural and rural utility cooperatives. For more information about the Farm Credit System, please visit www.farmcredit.com.