Rosewood Ranch has attracted the attention of a nationally syndicated television show that focuses on telling positive stories about rural life. The Ranch, along with Rosewood Services Inc.’s Greenhouse, will appear in episode 722 of America’s Heartland, the final episode of season seven for the show.
"They spent four hours with us," said ranch manager Eric Hammond, who was on hand when the two-man crew from America’s Heartland videotaped the show Sept. 21. "Then they visited our greenhouse a few days later. There wasn’t time to show everything we do at Rosewood, but they did get a good reflection of the ranch."
The show’s Rosewood segment is now available for viewing online at rosewoodservices.com and at americasheartland.org.
The first opportunity to see the show on television is Feb. 24 at 8:30 p.m. on Smoky Hills Public Television, channel 9. Rosewood Ranch is the second segment of three featured in the program. Rosewood’s segment runs approximately six minutes. The episode will air again March 7 on RFD-TV, at 7 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. central time.
America’s Heartland associate producer, Tyler Bastine, discovered Rosewood Ranch online while he did research for possible show ideas.
"I knew right away this was a story that would fit nicely into our series," Bastine said. "We’ve never featured a ranch/farm similar to Rosewood that is dedicated to helping folks with developmental disabilities. It was a very moving and inspiring experience."
The program is produced in Sacramento, Calif., at PBS-affiliate KVIE. According to America’s Heartland website, traditional airings on PBS and RFD-TV reach close to one million viewers per episode. Videographer Brad White also provides material for programs that air on National Geographic, Discovery, History Channel and others. "We are really fortunate to have such a talented videographer as Brad," said Bastine.
Bastine and White spent half a workday videotaping all aspects of ranch life for Rosewood clients who work and ride on the ranch. Rosewood client Darren Brown said he felt like a star being videotaped and interviewed by the television crew. Approximately 25 clients were at the ranch during the taping. They took the crew through their regiment at the ranch, from riding and caring for the horses, to mowing, weed-eating and fixing fence, to picking blackberries from the vineyard and even stacking hay.
"It was exciting," said Brown about the America’s Heartland visit to the ranch. "I think it’s going to be pretty cool to see it on TV. I think I did pretty well (on camera)."
Bastine said he and White also found the experience interesting and exciting.
"I admire how dedicated and determined the Hammonds are in providing people with disabilities a chance to become an integral part of society," Bastin said. "And this is one of the things I enjoy most about working for America’s Heartland, is meeting the farmers and ranchers and their families. They truly are some of the nicest folks I’ve ever met and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to work with them."
