This project combined my writing skills with my love of food production and local agriculture and also expanded my skills to include writing, directing, and producing short public service announcements for television. The Guilford County Voluntary Agricultural District board wanted a series of three public service announcements to raise consumer awareness of the area agricultural community and its products. 

Upon recommendation to the board by the director for the Community Farm and City Market project, I accepted the job of completing the PSA series.  As the director, writer, and producer I met with the board regularly to identify the specific messages they wanted to communicate to consumers; selected videographers and arranged shooting locations; captured and edited footage; created storyboards and scripts for voice actors; and produced the videos for delivery to the local television station. Upon completion, each PSA ran over the course of one month.

By the end of the project, I developed a new understanding of the challenges faced by local, family-run farms and played a small part in connecting consumers with the local farm community.

PSA 1 (15 sec): Raises consumer awareness of area farmers’ markets and encourages consumers to visit markets and buy local produce.

PSA 2 (30 sec): Encourages motorist sensitivity and respect for farmers as they operate heavy farm equipment in sub-urban and rural areas.

PSA 3 (30 sec): Promotes buying local farm products as an important step in protecting waterways and preventing soil erosion.