Lindsay and I couldn’t be happier, or more humbled, to say we host an award-winning television program: Ohio Farm and Country, the show we host weekly on ONN-TV, was awarded a coveted national Telly Award for agricultural issues-based television programming in the 30th Annual Telly Awards announced this week. The show is produced by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and presented by Nationwide Insurance.

Aimed at increasing awareness of issues critical to agriculture and the farming community, Ohio Farm and Country highlights our state’s largest and most important industry.

The episode ONN submitted for consideration aired in February 2008 and featured a break down and analysis of the Farm Bill and how Ohio was involved; how farmers provide food to help reduce hunger in Ohio; and an update on biofuels in the state. Lindsay and I taped our segments of the show on-site at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Columbus.

“We are extremely proud that show was awarded such a prestigious honor,” said Jason Pheister, ONN’s director of programming. “Farming is such a big part of our state and it impacts everyone. This show continuously brings awareness to the issues we all should care about.”

We’ve had a lot of fun hosting the show because of the great production team involved. Ohio Farm and Country was produced by Chip Nelson and Debra Bacon. Chip works diligently for the Ohio Farm Bureau, covering a number of different events for members. Debbie Bacon and her organization Classic Teleproductions also produces our coverage of the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions. ONN’s Scott Brandenburg and Farm Bureau’s Kurt Ely and Joe Cornely all put a great deal of time and energy in helping us host a successful program, and we can’t thank them enough for the partnership.

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV programs. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected production companies, television stations, and cable operators in the world. The Telly Awards receives more than 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and countries around the world.