Hey, Jane!
Whether you’re out weeding the garden or haying the back 40, gather your gal pals and perk up your ears ’cause I have a nugget of news to share …
The Farmer’s Wife magazine, circa 1920
There’s a presidential election on the horizon.
“You called us in from the fields to announce the election, MJ?” sighs Jane. “Heck, every farmgirl from here to Hays knows THAT news. CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC … we hear the headlines, honey.”
Hold on, sisters.
The election isn’t my news (I knew you knew THAT news).
My news concerns your news—rather, where it comes from.
Come again?
The networks you mentioned (most networks, for that matter) are broadcast by mega media corporations, far and away from cropland, countryside, and rural citizens’ concerns. Urban journalists interview urbane politicians (including potential presidential candidates) who frequently focus on issues of interest to the metropolitan masses.
What say you? “Too true!”
Now that I’ve nabbed your attention, here’s my news for you to use:
RFD-TV, a 24-hour news network dedicated to rural programming via cable and satellite, just announced that it will expand into political coverage this month with a new series called “Rural Town Hall”. This hour-long show, scheduled to air on Monday and Thursday evenings, will feature one-on-one interviews with presidential hopefuls, targeting issues specific to agriculture, rural education, development, health care, and more.
“What’s really important to us is that no one perceives us as having a pony in this race,” Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of Rural Media Group, told Modern Farmer. “We’re not Republican, we’re not Democrat. We’re not liberal, we’re not conservative. We’re rural Americans, and we’re asking the questions that are important to rural America.”
Already thinking of questions you’d like to ask? Send ’em in!
That’s right—the network is gathering questions from viewers as well as organizations like the Future Farmers of America and 4-H. Contact the network here.
Wow, I will have to look up this and see if our local cable company airs it. The format sounds interesting and I would be interested in what rural America is thinking. My current subscription to Cappers Farmer and American Land Trust provides newsletters of issues and concerns, but are limited .
The photo shown from the 1920 magazine The Farmer’s Wife is one of my favorite postcards that you had made from the picture. That is me back in the day on my grandparent’s farm in Sunman, Indiana. I know they had red cherry trees because I remember picking the fruit during summer vacations. But, I just bet there was at least one apple tree! I wish my Mom were still here so I could ask her if they had apples and made apple pies. Mom said grandma used to dry apples and use them in the Winter to make apple fritters but I can’t remember if she said the apples grew on the farm.
Thanks for the heads up. We used to get RFD-TV, but can’t here. I’ve missed it. I’ll remember to access the website now that you’ve brought this to my attention.
Thank you Mary Jane! Certainly worth paying attention to! I’m going to give some thought to questions, etc. that I could voice! We ALL need to make a strong effort I believe!
THANK YOU!!!
By the way: LOVE THE PIC
CJ
Do you know if they have any plans for over-the-air broadcasts? That would be helpful for those of us without cable or satellite TV!