WASHINGTON — An episode of America’s Heartland, featuring Dave and Sue Roehm of Leesburg, Ohio, and the work done by U.S. Wheat Associates and the U.S. Grains Council overseas, will air on PBS stations throughout the U.S. in the coming weeks.
Roehms
The Roehms went on the trip to see for themselves and show Heartland viewers how global their fourth-generation family farm really is.
The Roehms produce soft red winter wheat, corn and soybeans. Being from Ohio, they likely saw some of their crops in use in feedlots and bakeries across Morocco and Egypt.
Heartland, a U.S. television program dedicated to connecting rural and urban America, traveled to Egypt and Morocco along with U.S. Wheat and U.S. Grains Council staff in August to understand the vital role U.S. farmers play in feeding the world.
The Ohio Corn Marketing Program sponsored the Roehms’ trip, and several individuals and organizations that import, mill, or process U.S. wheat and corn provided time and effort to make production of the episode possible.
“Everyone we met and worked with made us feel very welcome and we appreciate that very much,” said U.S. Wheat Director of Communications Steve Mercer, who traveled with the Roehms and production crew.
Personal connections
“We believe creating personal connections between our customers and the farm families who produce U.S. wheat is an important part of our trade service work. It is also important that U.S. producers and the public have the chance to learn how U.S. agricultural products are making a difference for their trade partners.”
“This trip was a big revelation to me,” Sue Roehm said about her journey. “It was phenomenal the impact market development programs orchestrated by the Grains Council and U.S. Wheat are having overseas. When I look at our corn and wheat in Ohio, I will have a completely different perspective. My family’s harvest is truly helping improve lives thousands of miles away.”
Online
America’s Heartland episodes, including episode 518 depicting the Egypt and Morocco shoots, are available at www.americasheartland.org, on RFD-TV and on PBS stations throughout the country, including 19 of the top 25 stations in the U.S.
Monsanto and the American Farm Bureau Federation are sponsors of the show, and NAWG serves as a Heartland promotional partner and advisory board member.
U.S. Wheat Associates is the wheat industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries with funds from producer checkoff dollars and through cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
The overseas episode is directly accessible at www.americasheartland.org/episodes/episode_518/index.htm#.
