|
In
a new television series premiering Saturday, May 3, the unique appeal of
rural Alabama will come to light for viewers across the state. A
production of Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC), Time Well Spent
is television Alabama families can enjoy together as they see the
people, places and events that maintain some of the state’s most
time-honored traditions and heritage.
"Time
Well Spent is the show where rural Alabama celebrates itself and
shows people outside rural areas what that lifestyle is all about, why
it’s important and why it needs to be preserved," said the show’s
producer Bobby Cole who is also Vice President of BioLogic.
Cole
added the show has taken several years to grow from concept to
television set.
"The
whole idea really began three years ago when BioLogic merged with AFC.
We had worked to grow the BioLogic brand through television and printed
advertising, and from those efforts we had an understanding of
television we wanted to translate into something bigger. We saw the
opportunity for AFC to showcase the rural lifestyle in a way that’s
never been done before - in Alabama, about Alabama," said Cole.
Hosted
by Jim Allen, Director of Public Relations and Advertising for AFC, each
30-minute episode will contain four segments illustrating separate
aspects of rural Alabama. Allen will bring to the screen each week a
feature entitled "Rural Alabama…You’ve Got to Love It!"
which will focus on special places and events that add a bit of
distinctive charm to the landscape of the state.
Another
segment will take a youthful look at rural Alabama, hosted by AFC’s
Communications Specialist, Grace Smith, who knows first-hand what it
means to grow up amid the state’s pastural scenery. "Young Folks
in Action" will demonstrate just how young people are living and
learning traditional values as they participate in rural and
agricultural activities across the state.
Wildlife
biologist Chuck Sykes, who viewers may recognize from his program The
Management Advantage, brings out the state’s interest in wildlife
in the "Outside Rural Alabama" segment. With the help of his
camera operator Casey Shoopman, Sykes gives viewers the benefit of his
lifetime of hunting and fishing experience as he teaches the wildlife
management techniques that can maximize the sporting enthusiast’s time
on the water or in the field.
The
show’s fourth segment will bring out the green thumb in everyone as
Dennis Thomas, general manager of Bonnie Plants, delivers "The Gift
of Growing Things" to Alabama gardens. A helpful guide for people
of all skill levels, Thomas will provide the tips and techniques to take
gardeners from planting to pruning and harvesting.
According
to Cole, selecting the hosts for the program was an integral part of
making a quality television show true to the spirit of Alabama.
"We
wanted a heartfelt message from people who have dirt under their
fingernails, so to speak, not some purchased personalities with no
connection to their segments," said Cole.
"Jim
has an eclectic personality and he’s into the quirky side of what’s
going on in rural Alabama, and that fascination gives him the ability to
find unique happenings across the state. Grace is perfect for her
segment because she has a real affection for kids and she’s passionate
about telling young people’s story. Chuck and Casey are natural
outdoorsmen at heart, and Dennis is genuinely fascinated by plants and
loves explaining more about them. Nobody can tell a story like the
people who eat, sleep and breathe it, and those are the hosts of Time
Well Spent, people sharing their passions for rural Alabama,"
Cole added.
And
the hosts said filming the show has already been a learning experience
for them.
"I’ve
never even been in a home movie before, so being on camera has been
unnerving," said Allen.
"None
of us know anything about the other segments," said Smith, who
appears in some of Thomas’s gardening segments. "I know nothing
about gardening and Dennis is an expert; we’re total opposites, so
there’s an interesting mix to those episodes."
And
it’s an overall mix the hosts say will appeal to a broad range of ages
and residential backgrounds.
"From
the oldest to the youngest, it’s a program everybody can watch and
learn from. Whether it’s a child just catching the fever for hunting
or an eighty-year-old woman looking to improve her gardening, it’s a
show the family can watch together and all take something with them when
the show is over," said Sykes.
"And
rural Alabamians can see their stories, but Time Well Spent will
also appeal to people in more metropolitan areas who are moving back to
that sort of rural lifestyle. People everywhere are looking to rural
traditions in the way they shop, feed their families and make their
homes. There’s a real shift away from the hustle and bustle of busy
living," said Smith.
"Record
numbers of middle income and high net worth individuals are moving to
rural Alabama, and large numbers of individuals who live in cities and
suburbs are devoting increasingly larger portions of their time and
money to ‘rural-based’ activities and hobbies like hunting,
gardening, horse-back riding and fishing," according to Cole.
"Another
way we all win with this show is that viewers will realize their nearby
Quality Co-op has products they can buy and use even if they aren’t
farmers," said Cole.
Sykes
added many people may not realize the variety of goods and services
available for hunters and gardeners at their local Co-ops.
"Making
a television program is financially a big project, and sponsorship
opportunities are still available for the show right now," said
Cole.
"Because
the show is still a new idea, it’s hard for people to come up with
money for a project they feel is unproven. Sometimes people lack the
vision to see the long-range benefits of a show like Time Well Spent,
but for the right people, joining a work in progress can have huge
pay-offs," Sykes added.
Time
Well Spent will
air on NBC and CBS affiliates across Alabama on Saturday and Sunday
mornings. Consult local listings for show times. And for more
information, visit www.timewellspenttv.com. |
