The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) are launching a new statewide television show Jan. 4 focused on agriculture, gardening, rural lifestyles and rural youth programs.

“This is a great opportunity to educate the public about the importance of agriculture while featuring some of Alabama’s most interesting places and innovative people,” said Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan. “We are excited to partner with Alabama Farmers Cooperative in producing the new television show. We share a common mission to strengthen agriculture and promote a better appreciation for farmers and the rural way of life.”

The show titled “Simply Southern” will air Sunday mornings across Alabama on major network television stations. It builds on the success of AFC’s previous television program, “Time Well Spent,” which aired on RFD-TV. 

“Simply Southern” is being produced by Federation Broadcast Director Kevin Worthington. Each episode will include a farming story, a gardening segment sponsored by Bonnie Plants, a rural lifestyle feature with AFC Director of Public Relations and Advertising Jim Allen and a story about 4-H, FFA, Ag in the Classroom, Farm-City or other rural youth activities.

“I’m fired up to be promoting Alabama and surrounding states on television again,” Allen said. “I’ve worked closely with Alfa through the years and, believe me, ‘Simply Southern’ is a perfect union of two of the most respected agricultural organizations in the Southeast.”

Federation Communications Director Jeff Helms said he hopes viewers will enjoy the program and record episodes to view later or share with friends.

“This show has the potential to be one of the most effective public relations projects the Federation has initiated in the last 20 years,” said Helms. “Our goal is to reach urban and suburban audiences who know little about production agriculture, but who are interested in gardening, food and rural tourism. By offering a mix of stories, we hope to entertain and educate viewers while still appealing to the core membership bases of the Federation and AFC.”

The Federation and AFC decided to offer the program on network TV because some potential audiences don’t have access to cable or satellite programming. The partners chose top-rated stations in each of Alabama’s television markets to air “Simply Southern.”

The show will air at 6 a.m. Sundays in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Dothan, and at 6:30 a.m. in Mobile and Columbus, Ga.

Stay tuned to AlfaFarmers.org and AlaFarm.com for more information about “Simply Southern.”