7 minute read
Jason Brown
Arkansas PBS Grows with “Good Roots”
By Jason Brown
Arkansans have a new and unique opportunity to visit farms across the Natural State without ever leaving their living rooms. Arkansas PBS has launched a new monthly series called “Good Roots,” dedicated to exploring all things agriculture and rural lifestyles in Arkansas. The new series is part of the popular program “Arkansas Week,” which has aired for more than 40 years and is hosted by iconic TV journalist Steve Barnes.
Arkansas Farm Bureau, known across Arkansas for supporting rural communities and public policy issues like healthcare, agriculture and access to services, has partnered with Arkansas PBS to bring the series to air. The partnership aligns with ArFB’s mission to advocate the interests of agriculture and share information on the value and importance of ag.
The idea for “Good Roots” came when ArFB called the team at Arkansas PBS about bringing back a show dedicated to Arkansas agriculture. The last ag-dedicated programming on Arkansas PBS was a monthly series called Agri Arkansas, which was discontinued in 2017.
“We were interested in bringing an agfocused program back to Arkansas public television,” said Steve Eddington, vice president of public relations at Arkansas Farm Bureau. “Agriculture has an incredible story to tell, and programming like this allows so many in our state to visit the farm and learn about the state’s top industry in ways that may not otherwise be possible. We look forward to helping define and tell these stories with the help of our friends at Arkansas PBS.”
ArFB’s timing couldn’t be better according
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So far, the “Good Roots” team has visited Ralston Farms in Pope County, Bemis Farms in Pulaski County and Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke County.
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to Arkansas PBS Chief Content Officer, Greg Gerik. “The call came at a good time since we had a developing interest in surfacing rural and community stories. The network has a renewed focus to represent all communities in the state, especially rural areas.”
“Good Roots” is hosted by Logan Duvall and Lauren McCullough. Duvall is a small business entrepreneur and co-owner of the popular Me and McGee Market in North Little Rock. McCullough is a creative entrepreneur, dividing her time as a photographer, videographer and on-camera talent. She also has a family connection to Farm Bureau. Her late father, Floyd Clark, was a longtime agent and agency manager for Farm Bureau Insurance.
Duvall and McCullough trade off hosting duties for the monthly series, each bringing their own unique spin to Arkansas agriculture and rural life.
“‘Good Roots’ is meant to showcase Arkansas farmers, highlighting the people and stories that many don’t often see or hear, those who make Arkansas agriculture the state’s top industry,” said McCullough. “My job as host is to help the farmers tell their story in a meaningful way that connects with the audience.”
So far, the series has highlighted Ralston Farms
in Atkins, where Duvall explored farming techniques that restore soil health. In the second episode, the show featured a unique honeybee farm in Pulaski County, Bemis Honey Bee Farms, owned by a husband and wife duo who now build and sell bee-farming supplies to meet the growing popularity of beekeeping.
“Good Roots” has also visited Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke County to share the family farming legacy of one of the state’s top fruit and vegetable producers, including a conversation with 91-year-old Bob Barnhill. McCullough said one of her favorite moments for the series so far was learning the art and importance of customer service from Barnhill. The third segment focused on Abraham Carpenter and his family in Grady and their multi-generational Delta farming operation.
McCullough said she hopes the series is educational, entertaining and enlightening for viewers even though most probably know how important agriculture is for the state. She recognizes that many Arkansans may never have the opportunity to visit a farm, so she hopes to use the series to bring the farm to them.
McCullough is no stranger to the farm and rural lifestyle, having grown up on a cattle and poultry farm in Nashville (Howard County). Additionally, both sets of her grandparents grew peaches and tomatoes. McCullough describes her role on the series as bit of a homecoming, bringing her back to the farm and allowing her
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Duvall and McCullough are the initial, rotating hosts of the “Good Roots” segment, with more hosts to potentially join the mix as the segments continue. To learn more about Duvall and McCullough, see their profiles on pg. 11.
In the show’s second episode, host McCullough discussed strawberries with Bob Barnhill of Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke County.
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to travel the state to feature the agriculture industry. Her vision for the series includes demonstrating the integrity and humble nature of farmers across the state, something she’s learned over the years by being involved in agriculture.
As for ArFB’s involvement, the private non-profit organization provides funding for the series. ArFB President Rich Hillman said, “Arkansas Farm Bureau is dedicated to sharing the critical role agriculture plays in our lives and economy. Arkansas is built on the foundation of farming, and that story is much more complicated than what is often portrayed.”
ArFB joined the partnership in hopes that it would tell the deeper stories of what it’s like to live, grow and succeed in Arkansas.
The show’s format is a mixture of farm features, interviews, lifestyle stories, policy spotlights and more. “Good Roots” airs on the second Friday of each month. The segment began airing in April and viewers can catch all episodes and bonus content at MyArkansasPBS.org. To hear our full interview with Lauren McCullough, check out the Arkansas AgCast podcast by visiting ARFB.com. *
Meet the Hosts
LOGAN DUVALL
A small business entrepreneur and outspoken voice for cancer awareness and research, Duvall is the co-owner of Me and McGee Market in North Little Rock.
Hometown: Atkins
Favorite local bite: The Southern Standard
Best Arkansas summer destination:
Too many to choose – Table Rock Lake, Heber Springs, Buffalo River, Caddo River
If I were eating one Arkansas grown fruit or vegetable for the rest of my life, it would be:
Blackberry
LAUREN McCULLOUGH
Hometown: Nashville A creative entrepreneur, dividing her time as a photographer, videographer and on-camera talent. Lauren’s roots are in the southwest part of the state, where she grew up on the family farm showing registered Brangus cattle and raising chickens.
Favorite local bite: Ohhh dear ... lots of flavor and talent here but I’ll say The Fold :)
Best Arkansas summer destination:
Can we make a whole road trip of it? Let’s start the morning picking blueberries at Wye Mountain Farm in Roland, go down to Lake Hamilton to cool off on a boat and go fishing, do a little shopping in downtown Hot Springs, then head up to Petit Jean for a sunset hike, waterfalls and an overnight stay in the cutest little cabin you ever did see.
If I were eating one Arkansas grown fruit or vegetable for the rest of my life, it would be:
A Howard County peach. No question. And I don’t need anything else with it. No knife, no bowl, no sugar. Just me and that juicy, nectarous, golden ball of heaven.
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For over 70 years Farm Bureau® Insurance’s commitment to our customers has never wavered. In that time, local agents and adjusters have served communities all over Arkansas with home and auto insurance, and more. We believe that your family is part of our family. And protecting families has always been our pledge. Talk with your local agent to learn more about the Farm Bureau Promise.
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