America S Heartland Announces Launches Tenth Season With

America’s Heartland Launches Tenth Season with New Features, Themed Episodes

America’s Heartland continues to tell positive stories about America’s farmers and ranchers; the series will celebrate its 200 th episode in 2014

Sacramento, CA. (9/26/14) – America’s Heartland, the only weekly series focused on farming and ranching in all 50 states, has launched its popular series for an unprecedented tenth season. America’s Heartland premiered the week of September 7 on PBS stations and RFD- TV with new themed episodes and the return of popular features.

“We’re thrilled to offer a new season of 22 episodes that introduce viewers to new stories of the hard-working men and women who produce food, fuel, and fiber to the nation and the world,” said series producer Jim Finnerty. “This year, we’re focusing on a wide range of unique themes for each episode, so there will be something to educate and entertain everyone.”

One of the highlights this season is “Bacon U.S.A,” an all-bacon episode featuring pork producers, bacon-obsessed restaurants and chefs, and top bacon recipes. Another episode takes viewers on an old-fashioned California cattle drive. Other themed episodes this season include potatoes, sugar beets, cotton, aquaculture, urban farming, how agriculture is dealing with climate change, and the challenges facing young farmers.

America’s Heartland is seen on more than 270 PBS stations in 104 television markets spanning 32 states, including 15 of the top 25 markets. It also airs three times weekly on RFD- TV, the nationwide cable and satellite channel available in more than 40 million U.S. households. Launched in 2005, the series will produce its 200th episode this season.

Additional promotional assistance provided by The United Egg Producers, The American Soybean Association, The National FFA Organization, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, and U.S. Grains Council.

Each episode is hosted by reporters Jason Shoultz, Sarah Gardner, or Rob Stewart. America’s Heartland also features Sharon Profis, a popular CNET video host and well-known online chef. Sharon returns to the kitchen in the program’s Farm to Fork segment to prepare innovative and tasty recipes made with ingredients fresh-picked from the field or farm. All of the recipes will be posted on the America’s Heartland website (www.americasheartland.org)

Another popular returning feature for America’s Heartland’s tenth season centers on the interaction that consumers have with their food choices at their local supermarket. Off the Shelf takes viewers into their neighborhood grocery store to talk about changes in food offerings that impact everything from food costs to choices for a family’s evening meal.

Farm Credit has generously renewed its full funding support for season ten of America’s Heartland. Farm Credit is joined by CropLife America. CropLife is one of the many organizations supporting the Pollinator Project, a nationwide effort to restore native bee populations throughout the U.S.

America’s Heartland also receives production support from many prominent organizations and enterprises, including the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association, United Egg Producers, U.S. Grains Council, American Soybean Association, FFA, Valent USA, National Association of Wheat Growers, Young Farmers and Ranchers, the National Cotton Council of America, and the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For more information, visit www.americasheartland.org. Additional information is available by contacting series producer Jim Finnerty at (916) 641-3516 or [email protected].