DISCOVERY’S ‘RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN’ SPOTLIGHTS AMERICA’S UNLIKELY HEROES OF CONSERVATION
June 1, 2017
Narrated by Award-Winning Journalist Tom Brokaw
Directed by Emmy® Winning Filmmakers Susan Froemke and John Hoffman
From America’s heartland come four unexpected warriors for a hidden but far-reaching conservation movement: a Montana rancher, two Kansas farmers, and a Louisiana fisherman. With a passion for the terrain that defines their identity, each has bridged long-standing divides—between rural communities and outside experts, people that work the land and federal bureaucrats-- to preserve the landscapes that sustain their livelihoods. Discovery’s RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN, shines a light on this unheralded movement and offers inspiring solutions to the challenges confronting America’s wild land and wildlife, fisheries and croplands --including climate change.
Narrated by Emmy® and Peabody winning journalist Tom Brokaw, and directed by Emmy®-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Susan Froemke and Emmy®-winning filmmaker John Hoffman, RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN weaves together the stories of four unlikely conservation heroes working in America’s heartland. At a moment when it seems that collaboration is not just nonexistent but impossible, these working families cross political boundaries to arrive at real solutions for protecting the land and sea that define our country – and are crucial to all of our survival.
Based on Miriam Horn’s recently released book, “Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman: Conservation Heroes of the American Heartland” (Norton, Sept. 2016), RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN debuted in the prestigious Documentary Premieres Section at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. At the festival, the film also screened within the Sundance’s newly founded NEW CLIMATE section. RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN premieres THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 AT 9:00PM ET on Discovery immediately following a limited theatrical run in theaters in NY and LA. The film airs under the Discovery Impact banner, a slate of groundbreaking documentaries focusing on humankind’s impact on the environment and what individuals and society can do to solve some of the largest problems facing the planet.
“RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN captures the spirit of what Discovery is all about: recognizing the champions of our time doing extraordinary work in improbable places,” comments Rich Ross, Group President, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet , Science Channel, and Velocity.
Two centuries ago, 80% of Americans worked the land and water – today, just 1% of the population ranch, farm, and fish. RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN is a timely examination reminding us that conversation is a core American value, challenging the stereotypes of environmentalists. From the Montana Rockies to the fields of Kansas to the Gulf of Mexico, the film captures this muted revolution unfolding in America.
RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN shines a light on the inspirational work of people who work the land and sea that make up the United States of America. Their work shows us a path to sustaining both people and nature, by recognizing our essential interdependence and balancing tradition and experimentation.
Discovery Channel presents RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN, directed by Susan Froemke and John Hoffman; co-director, Beth Aala; produced by Beth Aala; producers, Susan Froemke, Miriam Horn; narrated by Tom Brokaw; executive producers John Hoffman, Dyllan McGee; co-producers, Alexandra Moss, Jon Bardin; story editor, Deborah Dickson; writer, Jack Youngelson; edited by Kathleen Dougherty, Flavia De Souza , Jen Fineran; supervising producer, Deborah Clancy Porfido; cinematography Bob Richman, Buddy Squires, Thorsten Thielow; sound Peter Miller, Roger Phenix; original score by Nathan Halpern; animation by Molly Schwartz. Based on the book by Miriam Horn. Produced by McGee Media, LLC in association with The Public Good Projects for Discovery Channel.