OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
Great American Wheat Harvest Documentary Film Receives State Support from Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Frederick, MD – April 25, 2013 – To help support the creation and educational purposes of the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film, independent filmmaker, Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC announces the Oklahoma Wheat Commission board has approved and appropriated funding to become one of the film’s executive sponsors.
Weaver received the announcement while filming during a wheat field day near Sentinel and Elk City, Okla.; and with U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., board member, Dan Misener of Misener Family Harvesters. In 2012, the Great American Wheat Harvest received a letter of support toGreat American Wheat Harvest Documentary Film Receives State Support from Oklahoma Wheat Commission
endorse the film’s mission from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.
“We are beyond humbled and grateful for the Oklahoma wheat producers who have invested their time and resources to help bring this film to the public,” Weaver says. “We look forward to welcoming even more wheat state commissions, businesses and interested individuals on board as they recognize the opportunity to collaborate on this international documentary film.”
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission now joins other Great American Wheat Harvest major sponsors including: Legacy Sponsor, John Deere; Platinum Sponsor, U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., and Silver sponsors, MacDon Industries, Ltd., the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters, and AgWired, an online media service.
Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, emphasizes the significance and critical timing of this film project to educate and inform the growing population about the importance and contribution of wheat producers and other agricultural industries to
the world’s food supply.
“No person takes more pride in being an environmental steward of the land than the American farmer,” Schulte says. “We believe the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film will show the spirit, teamwork and dedication of our wheat farmers and harvesters and how they work together to bring food to our tables and take the utmost responsibility in caring for the land.”
In 1965, the Oklahoma Wheat Resources Act established the Oklahoma Wheat Commission to include a framework for Oklahoma wheat producers to invest in the promotion of their product, Hard Red Winter wheat. The commission is entirely producer-controlled and works closely with the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource researchers to ensure the future of Oklahoma wheat.
Schulte says Oklahoma ranks amongst the top five U.S. wheat producing states. Current state research includes, wheat breeding and genetics; end-use quality; production techniques; nonfood uses for wheat; nutrition consumer education and outreach; and utilization of wheat flours.