Paul Ryan Selected as “America’s Heartland” Host (8-8-05)
“America’s
Heartland,” a program commemorating American agriculture and
supported in part by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA),
will be hosted by Paul Ryan, a veteran Emmy-winning broadcast journalist
with more than 35 years of television experience.
As host of “America’s
Heartland,” Ryan will contribute a wealth of broadcast television
experience, journalistic integrity and know-how to the new series,
according to Mike Sanford, executive producer of the ground-breaking
series at KVIE TV in Sacramento, Calif. “America’s Heartland”
will debut on the PBS airwaves this fall.
“Paul’s
professional integrity, his enduring commitment to the highest journalistic
standards and his love for the land make him a perfect fit to host
‘America’s Heartland,’” Sanford said. “On
top of it all, Paul is an amazing storyteller. He will take ‘America’s
Heartland’ viewers for weekly treks down our nation’s
country roads, across its fields and through its green pastures
in pursuit of the people, places and products that make American
agriculture the world's best.”
Most recently,
Ryan served as host of the popular travel series, "Experience
America." Produced in 2001, the half-hour series is still widely
telecast on PBS stations across the United States. Ryan said he
eagerly anticipates continuing down the road of success as host
of “America’s Heartland.”
“I’m
excited. This is going to be a real adventure,” Ryan said.
“It’s great to be able to work in television and produce
programs like this that are so meaningful to all Americans. Our
stories will take consumers beyond the grocery store shelves and
produce racks, all the way back to the wonderful families who work
the fields and farms. They have incredible real stories to tell,
and I am honored to help them share those stories with America.”
“America’s
Heartland” is produced with the flagship support of Monsanto
Company and the American Farm Bureau Federation, and through additional
support from contributors, including American Soybean Association,
NCGA, National Cotton Council, United Soybean Board and U.S. Grains
Council.