ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Public Television’s popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest is now in its fourth season with new half-hour episodes airing Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The series puts a human face on Maryland agriculture by telling stories of the people, skills and technology required to sustain and grow the state’s number one industry. Episode 408 will premiere today at 7 p.m.
Joanne Clendining, who earned an Emmy® from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her work as Maryland Farm & Harvest host, returns for season four. Joining Joanne is Contributing Editor Al Spoler, who serves up the Local Buy segment during each episode.
Featured on this week’s episode:
- Teabow Farm in Frederick County. Viewers will see how milk from Larry Jarvis’ farm in Walkersville makes its way to the Nestlé ice cream manufacturing facility in Prince George’s County, where it is used to make cookies n’ cream ice cream. The plant, in Laurel, is one of the largest in the world and sources much of its milk from Maryland.
- Schrader’s Outdoors in Kent County. This hunting business helps reduce wildlife damage to family farms. During the segment Ken Schrader brings hunters into a Goldsboro field (Caroline County), farmed by his nephew Brad Schrader, to keep deer and goose populations in check.
- Clark’s Elioak Farm in Howard County. Operated by mother and daughter Martha Clark and Nora Crist, the two women follow a family decree set in stone years ago, one that commands, “Never Sell the Land.” Located near Columbia, the farm is open to the public and offers a petting farm and look at a livestock and produce operation.
- During The Local Buy segment, host Al Spoler visits Clear Spring Creamery in Washington County to explore owners Mark and Claire Siebert’s devotion to sustainability at their farm through the use of solar panels, and shows how they transform milk into a probiotic packed drinkable yogurt.
The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7 p.m. For more information visit mpt.org/farm.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.
Additional funding is provided by Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Soybean Board; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts. Other support comes from the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; Willard Agri-Service Company; the Maryland Farm Bureau Service Company; the Mar-Del Watermelon Association; and the Maryland Grape Growers Association.
About MPT
Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, Md., Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service. MPT’s six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows. Beyond broadcast, MPT’s commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through year-round instructional events and the super-website Thinkport, which garners in excess of 19 million page views annually. MPT’s community engagement connects viewers with local resources on significant health, education, and public interest topics through year-round outreach events, viewer forums, program screenings and phone bank call-in opportunities.
