For Immediate Release

A Soldier’s Life On and Off the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan is

Featured on This Week’s Episode of America’s Heartland

Sacramento, CA, November 26, 2008: America’s Heartland, the nationally-broadcast,half-hour weekly magazine program produced by KVIE Public Television in Sacramento, will continue its fourth seasonwith a new episode on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 7:30pm.Thisaward-winning program, hosted by Paul Ryan, celebrates American agriculture and features stories about the men and women who provide food, fuel, and fiber to our nation and the world. Locally televised on KVIE’s channel 6 and KVIE-TV 6.1, America’s Heartland airs on PBS stations across the country, as well as RFD-TV, a cable and satellite channel focusing on rural life. Additionally, each episode streams online at

America’s Heartland episode 412is a special episode that featureshow America’s bountyaffects life onboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.

On Board

Kitchen crews work around-the-clock preparing meals for the 6,000 soldiers on the ship. As soon as one meal is finished, preparations for the next meal are already underway. The reason that cooking has become such a time consumer is that this isn’t the old Navy that relies on “c” rations anymore. With more of an emphasis on healthy cooking, exercise, and greens and vegetables, the harvest from America’s Heartland is serving those who serve us. Paul Ryan discusses dining and what life on a ship for months at a time is like with the people who live it.

On Shore

America’s Heartland travels to Mattoon, IL with a sailor on leave to see how this small mid-western town welcomes home America’s finest. With tranquil, tree-lines streets and downtown businesses flying the flag, Mattoon typifies America’s small towns. Several sailors have disclosed that after they retire from service, they will most likely head home and work on the family farm. They use the time to travel the world and grow as a person, hopefully preparing themselves for life as a normal citizen again.

The Monsanto Company and the American Farm Bureau Federation make presentation of America's Heartland possible. Additional production and promotion assistance is provided by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, United Soybean Board, U.S. Grains Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National FFA Organization. For more information about America’s Heartland episodes, visit

About KVIE
KVIE Public Television, located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, inspires audiences and enriches their lives through engaging programs and educational services. Established in 1959, KVIE serves more than 1.3 million households in the nation’s 20th largest television market. With one of the largest geographic signals in the country, KVIE can be viewed in 28 counties through its analog signal, more than 60 cable systems and satellite providers, and in high-definition on KVIE-DT. KVIE actively creates original local programming and is one of the leading producers of publictelevision programming in the country. For more information, visit KVIE’s Web site at

KVIE Public Television Media Contact:

Sheryl Brown

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