PIONEER PREVIEW MAY/JUNE 2021 You Can Do Big Things! Premieres MONDAY, MAY 3 on PBS KIDS Nonprofit U.S. Periodical Postage Paid Granite Falls, MN Paid Granite U.S. Periodical Postage Nonprofit You Can Do Big Things! 2 | PIONEER NEWS MAY - JUNE 2021 ABOUT THE COVER: DONKEY HODIE New PBS Kids program premieres Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m. The imaginative puppet series follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, the granddaughter of the original Donkey Hodie character (now known as “Grampy Hodie”), a puppet from MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, who appeared in 59 episodes of the beloved classic children’s show from 1968-1993. Every episode is set in the land of Someplace Else, where Donkey Hodie and her pals empower preschoolers to dream big and overcome obstacles, to work hard and persevere, to be resourceful and discover they can solve problems on their own – and to laugh themselves silly along the way! Pioneer PBS President & GM What’s Happening This Month Sherece Lamke at Pioneer PBS Dear Valued Pioneer PBS Members, Premieres As we enter the final months of our fiscal year, Pioneer PBS is proudMONDAY, to say that despite MAY the huge 3 challenges on PBS KIDS and trying times during this pandemic, we were able to finishPBS KIDS® andfull the PBS seasonsKIDS Logo are registered of trademarks our of Publicaward-winning, Broadcasting Service. Used with permission. thought DONKEY HODIE- © 2021 The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved. ful and thought-provoking productions. Things may look a little different at times, but we are honored to continue to raise up the voices of western and southwestern Minnesotans safely. I want to thank the dedicated board of directors and the nimble staff for helping us make it this far. We aren’t quite to the finish line yet, but we can see it from here! Alexandria Explore Alexandria I’ve been reflecting on how many changes Pioneer PBS has faced in its 55 Appleton years of service. From the ever-changing landscape of digital and expanding MN River Valley National Scenic the channels available, to livestreaming and having content on demand, we Byway have enjoyed growing with you! We are excited for what the future holds. Western Minnesota Prairie Waters Montevideo Chamber staff Tesa Siverhus Maus visited the studios to discuss underwriting Compass with Tourism On a personal note, I am now a homeowner in the region and am very much producer Amanda Anderson and Digital Media Specialist Maxim Uhlrich. looking forward to exploring western and southwestern Minnesota more Baltic, SD fully this summer. Please feel free to send your suggestions of places you Pioneer PBS making steady progress toward Master Control transfer Hefty Seed think I should see or reach out to tell me your story at [email protected]. The Pioneer PBS engineering department is making steady progress toward I look forward to meeting you all at events in the years to come. Thank you getting the master control operations and equipment, currently still located Beaver Creek Minnwest Bank again for such a warm welcome! in Appleton, fully housed in the Granite Falls facility. Bellingham The third week of April is volunteer appreciation week. Normally, we would in- Towers have been erected and most of the equipment has been installedACIRA vite everyone in to celebrate. We’re not quite to the place of large events, but and tested. Once the new network and software is installed and configured, I want to make sure all the volunteers know how much your time and energy training will begin on the new automation system, according to Paul Fisher, Belview means to us. We look forward to thanking you again in person very soon! Pioneer PBS director of engineering. Minnwest Bank We do what we do because of you, the viewer. It takes viewer support, Benson The final switch over of the station’s broadcast operations from Appleton to volunteers stuffing envelopes and answering phones, as well as asking new State Bank of Danvers Granite Falls is expected to take place in the summer of 2021. viewers to join our growing and resilient Pioneer PBS family. We hope to end our fiscal year in the black, and we need everyone’s support for the final Buffalo Wright County SWCD membership drive of the fiscal year, June 4-13. We have some special treats in Pioneer Production In other news, the production staff of Pioneer PBS have all but wrapped up store so please tune in, donate what you can and continue to grow with Pio- another season of new local programs -- with “Prairie Sportsman,” “Prairie Chanhassen neer PBS! Thank you so much for watching, for volunteering, for partnering Chanhassen Dinner Theaters Yard & Garden” and “Postcards” production crews managing to complete and for supporting Pioneer PBS! We truly appreciate you! their 13-episode seasons in spite of restrictions placed by the COVID-19Chokio pandemic. May is typically a month for regrouping and deciding on whichACIRA story lines to pursue for the upcoming seasons of these programs. If you have story ideas you would like us to consider, please send us an email to Clara City Shari Lamke, President and General Manager [email protected] or call 1-800-726-3178. Citizens Alliance Bank The Pioneer Preview Editor: Patrick Moore 800-726-3178 [email protected] | Pioneer Preview designer: Chelsea Lund Clarkfield POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PIONEER PREVIEW at 1 Pioneer Dr., Granite Falls, MN 56241 Compass Yellow Medicine Soil and Water The Pioneer Preview: May - June 2021: Volume 52, No. 3. The Pioneer Preview is the official There is no rest for the weary Amanda Anderson, producer of “Compass,” Conservation District program listing for Pioneer PBS. The Pioneer Preview is published six times a year by West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company, a nonprofit organization, (ISSN 1081-7298). however. “Compass” will continue to produce public affair stories year-round Its office is located at 1 Pioneer Dr., Granite Falls, MN 56241; 800-726-3178. featuring current topics relevant to communities in Pioneer PBS's viewing Colman, SD \Printed in the USA. Periodicals Postage Paid Granite Falls, Minn., and at additional mailing offices. Sioux Valley Energy Subscriptions available only to contributing members. area. Stories are digital-first, meaning they're available on “Compass’” and Pioneer PBS’s social media pages and website before being compiled into Board of Directors: Mark Olson, Willmar (Chair); Pat Kubly, Granite Falls (Vice Chair); Chuck Grussing, Collegeville Alexandria (Second Vice Chair); La Mont Jacobson, Sacred Heart (Secretary-Treasurer); Linda Wing, Slay- monthly broadcasts, which air the second Thursday of the month. If you ton: Paul Raymo, Madison; Andy Lopez, Alexandria; Deb Economou, Morris; Loy Wolber, Dovray; Pablo Minnesota Public Radio Obregon, Willmar; Rebecca Petersen, Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS’ board of directors meets every other have an idea about a topic or issue that you would like to see discussed on month at Pioneer PBS in Granite Falls, Minn. If you think you or someone you know would be a good “Compass,” contact Anderson at [email protected]. addition to the Pioneer board of directors, send your suggestions for nominations to: The Board of Danube Directors Nominating Committee, Pioneer PBS, 1 Pioneer Dr., Granite Falls, MN 56241. Minnwest Bank Community Advisory Board: Rilee Moulton, Morris (Chair); Mona Gregerson, Starbuck; Phil Corrigan, Hoff- New Digital Media Specialist man: Aaron Olson, Elbow Lake; Laura Knudsen, Nelson; Janet Timmerman, Lake Wilson; Tobin Tyler, Apple- As Anderson takes on full-time duties as “Compass” producer, Pioneer PBS Dawson ton; Tesa Siverhus Maus, Montevideo; Greg Raymo, Worthington; Sheila Tabaka, Marshall. The Pioneer PBS Minnwest Bank community advisory board is a non-voting, non-governing board of community leaders charged with has hired Maxim Uhlrich to assume her former role as the Pioneer PBS advising the station on whether its programming meets the needs of the region. They interact with staff and offer insight to the challenges and opportunities facing public TV. All meetings are open to the digital media specialist. Uhlrich grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, went to theEagan public. If you think you or someone you know would be a good addition to the Pioneer PBS community University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie and has been living in the TwinMinnwest Bank advisory board, send your suggestions for nominations to: Community Advisory Board Nominating Committee, Pioneer PBS, 1 Pioneer Dr., Granite Falls, MN 56241. Learn more about Pioneer’s board of Cities for the past six years working for a private company as a production directors and community advisory board at www.pioneer.org/governance. specialist. Uhlrich now lives in Montevideo. Echo Pioneer PBS is committed to safeguarding your privacy. We do not sell, rent or exchange the information you have entrusted to us. Citizens Alliance Bank UNDERWRITERS | 3 pioneer.org | 800-726-3178 Pennock Coverage Area PSI Power Washers Pipestone Christensen Broadcasting GrandStay Hotels Sioux Valley Energy Shakopee Minnesota Corn Growers Renaissance Festival Sioux Falls, SD Minnwest Bank PSI Power Washers Slayton Minnwest Bank Murray County Spicer GrandStay Hotels Kandiyohi Power Coop Charitable Trust Starbuck Stevens Community Medical Center Tracy Minnesota Energy Resources* Minnwest Bank Tyler Alexandria Fergus Falls Minneapolis/St. Paul Morris Lyon-Lincoln Electric Explore Alexandria Lake Region Arts Council Minnesota Farmers Union ACIRA Live Wide Open Minnesota Grown GrandStay Hotels Watertown