SARE partnered with PBS KVIE to produce an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland that features four farmers describing their commitment to sustainability, how they plan to meet farming challenges of today and tomorrow, and how SARE has impacted their farming and ranching practices.
The full 24-minute video is available, as is each segment featuring the four different farming/ranching operations in standalone videos below.
Bryce Wrigley, Delta Junction, Alaska
Bryce Wrigley of Delta Junction, Alaska, discusses the importance of soil health and how cover crops have improved his overall operation. He addresses the need for building food security in Alaska as well as how his farm is working to address this issue at the local level. Lastly, see how Wrigley works to share his newfound knowledge with other farmers.
Erin and Drew Gaugler, Lemmon, S.D.
In North Dakota, just 25 miles north of the South Dakota border, brother and sister Drew and Erin Gaugler run a 4,000-acre ranch. The Gauglers have received several SARE grants over the years to test out new farming methods on their land. In this video, they’ll talk about their grant projects that focused on bale grazing as a way to improve soil health. By prioritizing the health of the land, they know they’ll be able to pass it down to future generations.
Hannah Smith-Brubaker and Debra Brubaker, Cuba Mills, Penn.
Pennsylvania farmer Hannah Smith-Brubaker’s story is unique because she not only received a SARE grant but also served as a leader on the SARE committee that decides how the grant programs will address agricultural needs throughout the Northeast. She and her wife Debra have been farming in Cuba Mills, Penn., on land that has been in the family for 40 years. They’ll share how diversification and new marketing opportunities have benefited their farm.
Dr. Reagan Noland and Chad Raines, San Angelo, Texas
This episode features a SARE-funded collaboration between farmers and researchers: an important component of many SARE grants that allows innovative ideas to be tested in real-world farming conditions. In west Texas, Dr. Reagan Noland is working with rancher Chad Raines to see if running sheep in organic cotton can be an effective method of weed management that allows a farmer to reduce their use of tillage.
Visit https://www.rfdtv.com for more information about America's Heartland and other RFD-TV programming.
Want more information? See the related SARE grants: