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November 15, 2011
Media Contact:
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, 608-356-9462 ext. 147
 The International Crane Foundation (ICF) congratulates Into the Outdoors, a television series dedicated to educating children on Wisconsin’s natural, economic and cultural resources and activities, for earning its eighth Emmy award for “The Art and Science of Cheesemaking” and “Tater Tales” in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Children’s/Teen Program or Series. Having worked closely with the producers of Into the Outdoors on “Tater Tales”, ICF was very excited to hear about their prestigious award.
“We really enjoyed working with Discover Mediaworks and the folks from Into the Outdoors during the production of “Tater Tales”, Jeb Barzen, ICF’s Director of Field Ecology said. “ICF has collaborated with the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and its Healthy Grown potato program since its inception in 1994 and sharing their mission of sustainable agriculture to audiences of all ages is critical to the success and future of the program.”
Over 90% of land in Wisconsin is privately owned and the majority of that private ownership is devoted to agriculture. The prosperity of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin is thus linked to Wisconsin agriculture because these magnificent birds share their habitats with our agricultural industry.
Healthy Grown potatoes is a program that works with growers to provide economic incentive and conservation tools designed to protect and improve ecosystems that both cranes and people inhabit while maintaining profitable farms. To be successful, sustainable conservation activities must address the needs of both people and wildlife within our economic system.
ICF’s work with Wisconsin growers is part of a larger effort to work with private landowners worldwide since private ownership is the rule rather than the exception globally. Collaborating with private landowners to create solutions that work for conservation and that provide economic incentive is as relevant for ICF projects in Phu My, Vietnam as they are in Wisconsin. At Phu My, centuries-old traditions of harvesting reeds from native wetlands for weaving mats was threatened by shrimp pond development. Even though they were highly destructive, shrimp ponds were a lucrative business relative to mat weaving in the Mekong Delta near Phu My. To encourage a sustainable model of wetland use, ICF purchased equipment and trained people to convert their weaving expertise into a more profitable business with exported woven products of higher retail value. Since the project began, incomes of families in Phu My have quintupled, giving them real alternatives to shrimp pond development. The wetland at Phu My is now more secure, and Phu My products are available worldwide.
Efforts to produce viable businesses in Phu My or in Wisconsin are influenced by similar pressures and opportunities. Succeeding in either place requires time, frequent interactions and extensive collaborations to succeed.
This summer, ICF’s headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin will be featured on Discover Wisconsin, another successful TV program from Discover Mediaworks. View "Tater Tales" on Kididdel.com
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