America's Heartland - Episode 108

Episode 108
	Host Paul Ryan takes us to the heart of Big Sky country to meet a family that has harvested the grains for decades, but stands at a crossroads now as the youngest generation decides whether to stay with the farm or move on to other pursuits. The storied Downeast Maine lobsterman may be an icon, but the task of bringing the crustaceans in from the coastal North Atlantic is fraught with a growing number of challenges. A lesser-known crop growing in the heart of Nebraska is simply… grass. Viewers learn how one farmer has turned turf into a lucrative nationwide business, and why Nebraska is the right place to be home-based. In south Texas, one crop can often be located by pillars of smoke dotting the horizon. Sugar cane is making a comeback in the region. Host Paul Ryan visits Iowa for a colorful look at that famous – and huge – celebration of the Heartland’s agricultural culture and output: the Iowa State Fair.

Montana Family Farm
Kids are taught young and worked hard in the heartland. The O’Briens have owned this wheat and barley farm since the early 1900s. Today it’s shared with their in-laws, the Brentesons. One reason this farm has survived and thrived is because everyone knows you have to pitch in as soon as you crawl out of the crib.

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Lobstermen of Maine
In 2002 Maine lobstermen brought in more than 62 million pounds—one of the largest catches since record keeping began in 1880. The 2005 season isn’t expected to be as abundant. With increasing government regulations and overcrowded waters, blockbuster years like 2002 may be a thing of the past.

Home Turf
“First you grow it, then you mow it": that's about all that most of us think about when it comes to our lawns. But grass and sod play a much larger role in American life both in the city and on the farm than you might ever imagine.

Raising Cane in Texas
Doctor Erik Mirkov likes hanging around sugar cane and not to satisfy his sweet tooth. This Texas biologist is searching for medical solutions. Mirkov is studying a single gene within the sugarcane plant that creates a protein that could combat cancer and other serious ailments.

Meet Us at the Fair
You really can’t blame Gary Slater for bragging a bit. Sure, he’s the manager and CEO of the Iowa State Fair. But, all favoritism aside, Slater says there are few annual events that inspire such loyalty here in the heartland.

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The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Farm Credit, and the United Soybean Board make presentation of America's Heartland possible.

Additional production and promotion assistance is provided by
The American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, U.S. Grains Council,
National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National FFA Organization.