>>America's Heartland
is made possible by....
Farm Credit ,
owned by America's farmers
and ranchers.
Celebrating 95 years of service
to U.S. agriculture
and rural America.
Learn more at farmcredit.com.
The United Soybean Board ,
America's soybean farmers
and their checkoff.
And by the American
Farm Bureau Foundation
for Agriculture
dedicated to building
greater awareness
and understanding of agriculture
through education
and engagement.
>>I'm Rob Stewart.
Growing up on a farm or ranch
can give you a very special
start in life.
We'll take you to Florida
where that lifestyle
is giving urban youths a chance
to overcome obstacles.
>>I'm Dave Lieberman.
And today we're taking you
to New Jersey
where I'm cooking up
a couple dishes
made with farm fresh eggplant!
I think you're in for a treat.
>>Hi, I'm Paul Robins.
Coming up,
a little history
on what some folks call
the fruit of the gods,
a fruit made famous in song
by a holiday partridge!
>>If you live in the city,
have you ever thought about
what life would be like
on the farm?
Hi, I'm Sarah Gardner.
We're taking you
to Kansas this time
to meet some women who traded
their urban lifestyles
for new homes in the country.
And they're going online
to share that experiences
with the world.
It's all coming up
on America's Heartland.
♪ You can see it in the eyes
of every woman and man ♪
♪ in America's Heartland
living close to the land. ♪
♪ There's a love
for the country ♪
♪ and a pride in the brand ♪
♪ in America's Heartland
living close, ♪
♪ close to the land. ♪
>>We all face
challenges in life!
And sometimes
it's how we deal
with those challenges
that can determine
how we find ourselves
in the future.
Well, we found
a very special story in Florida,
a unique ranch
that teaches young students
all about agriculture
and life lessons from the land.
♪ ♪
This may look like
a regular ranch,
but look a little closer
and you'll quickly see
that this ranch
is putting lives back on track!
>>All right,
everybody's got their jobs!
Everybody knows what to do!
>>This is the Florida
Sheriffs Youth Ranch
in Live Oak,
a safe haven for 80 boys
living on a sprawling
3000 acre oasis
of grace,
hard work and 2nd chances.
Founded in 1957
by the Florida
Sheriffs Association,
thousands of lives
have been impacted here.
>>For the sheriffs in the state,
they see those kids
and those families
in their communities
that they know
are not being supervised.
They're failing in school,
they're running the streets,
and they know
that if this kid
doesn't get some help?
A year from now
(5 years from now, whatever)
they're going to be in our jail!
And we're tired of doing that.
We want to get them
before they get to that point
and give them the guidance
and structure they need
to go onto to be healthy,
successful adults.
>>There's a formula here
for changing young lives
into successful adults.
Ranch President Roger Bouchard
calls it the four pillars.
>>The whole idea
was to raise kids
the way you'd want
to raise your own kids!
And so those pillars got set.
It was work,
study,
play and pray.
And we just feel
like everybody's got to work.
Everybody's got to have a job.
So kids work hard.
>>Today that job
is herding cattle.
The boys, lead by farm manager
Jeff Parker,
are moving cows,
changing directions
to get them
into the correct pasture.
It's almost symbolic
of the path being
taken by the youngsters.
>>Teaching the boys
to be a part of something
greater than themselves
is probably the biggest thing
I want to impress upon them.
Regardless of how poor
or how wealthy you are,
there's something
you can do for somebody else
to better themselves.
>>For almost
every youngster here,
the rural experience
is a brand new thing
in their lives.
Nicholas Schultz
is from Detroit.
He's a senior at the
Boys Ranch.
>>What is it
about the rural lifestyle
that attracts you?
>>I love every part about it
from anything
from horses to cows
to just the peace and quiet
out in the country.
>>Under the guidance
of farm manager Jeff Parker,
Nicholas is learning
how to put up
a barbed wire fence.
At home in Detroit,
Nicholas was struggling
in school.
The ranch offered him
a new start,
mentoring,
guidance and hard work
to turn his life around.
>>It's kind of nice
to have a clean slate
and start fresh, isn't it?
>>Yes, sir!
>>What did that do
for you mentally
just to be able
to turn the page, you know?
>>Well, it took a lot of relief
off of my shoulders,
a sigh of relief,
thinking that I have a chance
to do everything over again
and do it for the best.
>>Everybody
deserves a 2nd chance.
>>Yes, sir.
>>Rashad Gardenhire
is a 2011 graduate
of the Boys Ranch.
He's come back today
to encourage
the younger students
to follow their dreams.
>>Did this place
change your life?
>>I would have to say yes.
Yes, for the better,
for the better.
Coming from, okay, the city?
I was in trouble, you know?
Everybody has a story, you know?
I was in trouble
in school a lot,
and home wasn't, you know,
really getting along at home
too much.
So when I came here,
I think I've decided
to make the change for myself.
Like right when I came here?
I got started on a good foot
'cause I knew I needed....
....I know I needed it,
you know?
I knew I needed it
so I was, I was....
....I realized
that this can be
the Rashad that, you know,
people, you know,
would like to be around,
you know,
'cause who likes trouble?
Nobody!
>>The students live in houses
staffed with host parents
on the ranch.
Rashad was a leader
in one of the homes.
His experience
and work here
earned him
a college scholarship.
>>What are you going to do?
>>What am I gonna do?
My plan is to go to....
....it's a debate right now
between 2 colleges.
But I'm leaning
towards Santa Fe
because it has my major.
>>Which is?
>>Nursing!
I am going to be
a pediatric nurse.
I want to work with kids.
>>So you want to help?
>>Yes!
>>And you speak about kids.
I can't help but think
how special it was
that you were over there
giving those new kids here
advice.
>>Yes, I like to
when I'm in the cottage,
you know?
We have 10 boys in the cottage,
and they consider me
as a leader
in the cottage, you know?
So I take upon the role,
and you gotta lead by example!
>>At the ranch's front gate
(for which each youngster
comes into the programs here)
there is a symbol
and a sign for the future.
The symbol?
A gate
representing the portal
to their next chapter in life.
The sign
is found under a giant tree.
It reads every acorn
can be a mighty oak.
Every boy
can be a successful man.
>>That really is
a beautiful statement
for this place.
>>And you know,
we get to see that happen
everyday here.
>>And you know what?
I heard that that statement
and that tree
mean so much to you
that it's going to be
your final resting place?
>>Yep!
>>They'll spread your ashes?
>>Spread my ashes under it!
>>No one can doubt
that this place
means a lot to you.
>>It means a lot,
means a lot.
A great place to be!
>>Florida holds top honors
when it comes
to orange production
in the United States,
most of that citrus crop
going into orange juice.
And as you might expect,
Florida's warm temperatures
make it the perfect environment
for produce production:
lots of those vegetables,
berries and melons
headed for markets
all across the country.
And while it may not be
what you associate with Florida,
the Sunshine State
raises a large number
of horses,
ponies and mules as well.
>>I'm Akiba Howard.
Let's talk about good food
and your well-being.
Proteins are an essential part
of a well-balanced diet.
But if some protein
is good for you,
is more protein better?
♪ ♪
>>You hear a lot about protein.
There are high protein diets
and low protein diets.
Protein shakes
are promoted for losing weight.
But what is protein,
and how does it figure
in the foods we need
to stay healthy?
Without getting too scientific,
protein is the major
structural component
of all cells in your body
especially muscle cells.
When you consume protein foods,
digestion will break down
the proteins
into amino acids
used by the body
for some really
essential stuff.
Most adults need
about 46 to 56 grams
of protein a day.
And the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
says that proteins
should be a significant part
of your diet.
Why?
Well, protein is needed
to preserve lean muscle mass,
tissue repair,
immune functions,
forming blood cells,
and especially
fostering growth functions
for children,
teens and pregnant women.
Where to find protein?
Well, if you're your heading
to the supermarket?
Meats, fish,
poultry, cheese,
eggs, nuts,
milk and beans
can provide you
with adequate amounts
of protein.
And while there is no
consensus on this question,
some studies suggest
that if you're involved
in endurance exercise
or weight training?
Additional protein
may be beneficial.
Remember too,
that some of the same foods
that provide protein
may have higher levels of fat.
And higher levels of fat
could be a factor
in the development
of heart disease.
Most of our
animal proteins
and some
of the vegetable proteins
are considered
complete proteins
with a full range
of amino acids.
And those on certain diets
that avoid animal proteins
may have to include
other protein rich foods
to get the full complement
of amino offerings.
One more word
on additional protein!
Very high protein diets
are not recommended
for most people.
And they can aggravate
existing health conditions.
So as with many things
in your nutritional profile,
a balanced diet is important.
>>I'm Sarah Gardner.
Still ahead,
we'll take you to Kansas
to meet some
formerly urban females
sharing their new
farm wife experiences
and telling the tale online.
♪ ♪
>>Most farmers
have to bring their product
to the consumer.
But here at Lee Turkey Farm
in East Windsor, New Jersey?
The consumer
comes to the product!
Isn't that right, Ronnie?
>>That's correct!
>>This is a u-pick-it farm?
>>U-pick farm, correct!
>>Tell me about how it works.
>>Well, how it works
is people come here
with their families mostly
(it's a family event)
and they want to get
fresh produce
along with the experience
of finding out
that fruits and vegetables
don't just come
from the aisles
in a supermarket.
>>So I know this farm
has been in the family
for awhile.
Has it always been
a u-pick-farm?
>>Well, the farm
has been in the family
since 1868.
I'm the 6th generation!
And no,
it hasn't always been u-pick.
My father and mother
started it in 1964.
And this was
the very first one
to go all together
retail u pick in New Jersey.
>>So Ronnie,
you've got some brussel sprouts
growing here.
That's a late growing crop.
Is that how you keep customers
coming out sort of year round
with different crops
that come at different times?
>>Absolutely!
You could have a billboard
saying you've got
brussel sprouts?
Nobody's coming.
>>Yeah, not everyone loves
brussel sprouts!
>>Right,
but if you have a sign
saying strawberries or peaches
or apples or pumpkins?
They're coming!
And then what you do
is you plant the broccoli
and the brussel sprouts
and the other little vegetables
along the way.
And as they're coming out
to pick?
They see them.
They buy them!
>>Ronnie,
you got a ton
of eggplants here.
>>Many farmers
grow eggplant in New Jersey.
New Jersey
is the number 1 producer
in the United States!
>>Is that because the climate
is so good, you think?
>>That....
....the climate is huge
and just that we have
a very large amount of people
that just like eggplant!
>>How do you like
to pick the eggplant?
What do you look for
when you're picking eggplant?
>>Well, when I'm looking
to pick eggplant?
I'm looking for good dark color!
But eggplant for the most part?
Whether it's big or small,
it's gonna taste the same!
It's kind of like peppers.
>>Ronnie,
this cabbage looks great.
But I know it's been
a tough year in terms of weather
with all the rain.
>>The normal year
here in New Jersey?
We get 46 inches of rain.
In the past 5 weeks,
we've had 24.
>>And how has the cabbage
held up so well?
This variety
seems to hold up pretty good.
It's called stone head.
>>Well, I can make a great dish
out of this.
It looks terrific!
Have you ever had
a cabbage curry before?
>>I haven't.
>>Well, Ronnie told me
that Janet, his wife,
is the cook in the house.
So I'm flattered
to be in your kitchen,
and we get to cook
with all these great ingredients
that we harvested today
from your farm.
What are you going to make?
>>I am going to make moussaka.
>>Well, the first thing
that I'm going to make
is an eggplant caponata!
Maybe you could help me
dice up some of these eggplants
that we harvested in the field.
You don't need to peel them,
and it's really easy!
All you have to do
is take off the tops!
>>All right!
>>So what I'm going to do
is pour a lot of olive oil,
and I'm going to add
plenty of salt
because it's going
to help bring out the water.
So the eggplant is ready here.
So I can basically now just add
the remaining ingredients:
garlic and some onions....
This just gets cooked in
to soften them.
So it's looking
really good already!
And maybe you can help me add
these remaining ingredients.
So just add canned tomatoes!
And I'm going to use
a balsamic vinegar
for the acidity!
It also adds
quite a bit of sweetness.
And then I'm going to add
a little bit of briny flavor
with capers,
1/3 of a cup
of dark brown sugar,
and that's going to make it
nice and sweet!
So why don't you start adding
a little bit of chili flakes
just to give it
a little bit of heat!
And I'm going to add
some freshly ground salt
and add a little bit
of black pepper.
And I'm going to add
a stick of cinnamon
and some golden raisins!
So I'll put this
back up on the heat!
So tell me about your recipe.
>>I am just going
to cube up that and eggplant.
Now I normally?
My recipe calls
for this to be peeled.
I'm going to brown
the turkey and the onions.
And I'm going
to layer that mixture
with the zucchini
and the eggplant.
>>So I'll add a cup
of this diced onion
to the turkey mixture.
And so basically,
you just have to....
>>I'm going to put
a little bit of this
on the bottom.
I am going to get
the red sauce ready
to pour in with the turkey.
It's just a little tomato sauce.
And I'm going to add
a little bit of cooking wine.
It's about a third cup.
>>OK!
>>And then I'm going to add
a teaspoon of basil.
>>So you got dried basil
and dried oregano.
What's the final step here
with the moussaka?
>>So I'm making a white sauce.
>>Well, what we could do
is add the flour first
and then just whisk in the milk!
And then you put it
on the stove
just long enough
until it thickens.
It looks great!
>>I am just going
to put half of this
over that.
And then we'll add
the rest of the eggplant
zucchini!
And then we're just going
to put the cheese sauce on
top of it and bake it.
I'm going to add feta cheese!
And I'm going to add
just a little bit
of parmesan cheese.
And we're just going
to put it over the top of it.
>>So you're going
to slip that in the oven,
and we can get started
on the Thai curry.
What I'm gong to do
is deal with the cabbage here.
And then I'm going
to use some classic
Thai flavors!
We've got ginger,
lemon grass,
tomatoes and limes!
Go ahead and add
the garlic and onions here.
And coconut milk
is really important
in Thai cooking!
And that's sort of
the base of the broth
for this curry.
And I'm going to add
a little bit of water.
And I'm going
to add the cabbage.
And I'm going to throw in
the ginger, the lemon grass,
the red curry paste....
And I'm going to add
the green peppers,
and I'm going to add
some fresh limes!
>>You're adding it
with the rind and everything?
>>Yeah!
The rind has a ton of flavor!
So you don't want
to leave that out.
OK, Janet?
It's almost time to eat!
I'm just going to put
a couple of last minute things
on this curry.
There's 4 things
I want to add!
It already smells great.
Can you smell that?
Yeah, it smells great.
I'm going to add
a little bit of brown sugar
and then fish sauce!
And fish sauce
is one of the most
important seasonings
in Thai cooking.
And then I'm going to add
some of these fresh tomatoes
from your farm.
And then I'm going to add
some fresh basil
and put this back on the heat
for only a couple minutes more.
And then we can serve it
over some jasmine rice
and chow down!
>>OK!
>>Alright Janet,
we'll do a little
dish exchange:
you'll taste mine,
and I'll taste yours!
>>All right, I'm excited.
>>This is delicious!
I could eat this all day!
And the best part about it
is it's right from
the back yard!
>>Yeah!
♪ ♪
>>Hello, I'm Paul Robins.
And here's something
you may not have known
about agriculture.
You know,
a lot of the foods
that we enjoy today
have been around
for a long, long time!
Tomatoes, potatoes,
avocados....
All of them
date back thousands of years!
But not all of them
have the history
of one piece of fruit
that early writers called
the gift of the gods!
And if you like to sing
The 12 Days of Christmas
around the holidays?
You already know
that colorful partridge
was sitting in
a pear tree!
Travel back in time
some 5000 years
and a Chinese writer
was already documenting ways
to improve pear trees
by different methods
of grafting the branches.
In the Odyssey,
the Greek poet Homer,
lauds pears
as a gift of the gods.
Pears were one
of the very first fruits
to be grown commercially
with orchards
springing up everywhere
across Europe
by the 17th century.
Pears were a popular prop
for artists as still life's
in those Renaissance paintings.
If the picture didn't sell,
you could always eat the fruit!
Early colonists
brought pears to America
by 1620.
And orchards
thrived on the east coast
until crop blight
destroyed many of those trees.
Fortunately,
by that time settlers
in Oregon, Washington
and California
had begun their own orchards
which today provide
the majority of the pears
grown in the U.S.
There are hundreds
of varieties of pears
grown around the world!
But Bartlett pears
(which originated in England
in the 1700's)
are the most popular variety
grown in the U.S.
Pears were once known
as butter fruit
because of their juicy,
delicate texture and flavor.
Pears are a good source
of vitamin C and fiber.
And pear trees
can live to be 100 years old!
And while it may seem
that there is no similarity?
Pears are actually
a member of the rose family!
Happily, without thorns!
>>You may have spent some time
visiting a rural community.
But what if
you found yourself
living there
after giving up your life
in the city?
Well, that's been the experience
for a group of women in Kansas
who've begun
sharing their stories
as they make their own
country connection.
♪ ♪
>>For couples Kim
and Adam Baldwin
(who met online)
and Katie and Derek Sawyer
(who met through a friend)
it was matches made in heaven
with marriages in the
heartland!
Two couples,
where each bride-to-be
was trading her previously
urban life
for a future on the farm!
For Katie?
Those plans
involved some advice from Mom.
>>She gave me fair warning
that if you move
to the farm?
Then you become a farm wife!
Life is completely different.
The farm dictates your life.
You don't dictate the farm
>>And what about Kim?
>>You got to know
how this stuff works.
>>The 1st year was definitely
a learning experience!
I'm not gonna lie.
It still is!
>>See if you can
find the switch!
>>I was exposed to agriculture
but nothing like
what I'm experiencing
on a day-to-day basis out here.
>>Lefty loosey, righty tighty.
Right?
>>I'm just concerned
that I might break something.
I think I just broke a nail.
I just broke it in the drill
when I was looking
for that tab do hickey.
>>I often tell people
it's like I went back to school
to learn a new profession.
>>Okay, now you're in the tree!
>>They weren't giving me
any kind of breather time.
I had to learn on the job!
>>She has learned a lot,
and it's really exciting
to see how enthusiastic
she has always been about it!
She's come a long ways!
>>Starting any marriage demands
a period of adjustment,
adjusting your style
to that of your partner!
>>I'm the list maker,
the to-do person.
And I have to accomplish
certain things
by certain points.
And after meeting Adam
and marrying Adam?
I've realized
to just chill out a little bit.
I still have my moments.
>>Well, I think probably
just being a farmer?
You make a list,
and it rains.
And then it's screwed up!
And so you can have the....
....you just need to know
what needs to get done next!
And you just kind of keep
going down your list.
>>But learning new skills
is a two way street!
>>He knows
how to run a sweeper now.
He is learning to load dishes
in the dishwasher.
We're still working on that one!
And landscaping
and pruning, weeding?
That's a fun one!
And watering plants?
You know, we've got
a routine down.
So he's learning
a little domestication!
>>But their move to the farm
has also given Katie and Kim
a chance to share
their experiences
through social media.
Their Farm Wives blog
is a way to reach out
to other women in agriculture
and those in urban areas
who might want to know
more about 21st century
farming.
>>So it was really
just a way for me to keep
my friends and family
up-to-date on, you know,
what was going on
out on the farm!
>>It's my way of doing
what I can to help, you know?
Share the story
of agriculture!
Share the story
of our operation,
but also just become
an advocate for agriculture
because we need
all the advocates we can get!
And there's tons
of misinformation out there!
So I just do my part
to set the record straight
and just enlighten people
on what really happens here.
>>In addition to their
Farm Wives blogging efforts,
Katie and Kim also take part
in a regular meeting
of farm wives
in their community.
>>Basically once a month,
the farm wives who are,
you know, in their 20's
and 30's get together.
Everybody can relate.
You know,
when your husband
is out in the field
at all hours of the night
trying to get the corn planted?
I know that there are
at least, you know,
so many other women
in this county
who are dealing
with the same things!
>>What we really enjoy the most
is actually sitting around
and just talking
about our husbands
and maybe complaining
a bit about the lifestyle
and maybe
some of the harder parts
of living with a farmer.
>>Derek and Adam
may not always agree
with what's said
at the farm wives meetings,
but they admit
that very positive,
personal changes
have come from working
with their wives.
>>Our time together
isn't always plentiful
sometimes.
But when she can come out
and ride on the combine
with us and be involved
with harvest
with the rest of the crew?
That's a lot of priceless time
that really has a lot of meaning
when you look back on it.
>>Their Farm Wives blog
and their connection
with others through social media
has given both women
a new appreciation
of life on the land.
>>We make sure
you love this lifestyle.
It becomes your lifestyle.
It's not just
your husband's job.
It is your....
....it's your job!
It's your lifestyle!
>>There's 1 and 1/2%
to 2% of the U.S. population
are people
involved in agriculture!
And so if I can somehow
connect with people out there
to show them kind of what we do
and what our husbands do?
I think that's a positive
to what we're doing!
>>That's going to do it
for this edition
of America's Heartland.
Thanks for traveling
the country with us
as we introduce you
to interesting people
and places.
We'll see you next time.
>>And remember,
there's much more
on our website
including video
from all of our shows.
Just log onto
americasheartland-dot-org
or follow us 24/7
on some of your
favorite sites as well.
We'll see you next time
right here
on America's Heartland.
>>To order a copy
of this program,
visit us online
or call 1-888-814-3923.
The cost is $14.95
plus shipping.
♪ You can see it in the eyes
of every woman and man ♪
♪ in America's Heartland
living close to the land. ♪
♪ There's a love
for the country ♪
♪ and a pride in the brand ♪
♪ in America's Heartland
living close, ♪
♪ close to the land. ♪
>>America's Heartland
is made possible by....
The United Soybean Board ,
America's soybean farmers
and their checkoff.
Farm Credit ,
owned by America's farmers
and ranchers.
Celebrating 95 years of service
to U.S. agriculture
and rural America.
Learn more at farmcredit.com.
And by the American
Farm Bureau Foundation
for Agriculture
dedicated to building
greater awareness
and understanding of agriculture
through education
and engagement.
♪ ♪