JOHNSTON, IOWA (February 11, 2021) — Travel around the state from the comfort of your couch, meeting interesting Iowans and discovering hidden gems along the way. Iowa PBS's popular digital series is back with a new compilation program, Greetings From Iowa Special, premiering Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. as part of Festival 2021. The program will be rebroadcast Saturday, March 13, 9AM, on Iowa PBS .1, and Saturday, March 13, 6PM, on Iowa PBS WORLD .3.
With segments from the show's third and fourth seasons, this special offers another journey around the state exploring the colorful people, places and stories that make Iowa great.
“Seasons 3 and 4 were an opportunity to continue our travels around the state, and to be reminded that the titles such as ‘artist,’ ‘businessperson,’ ‘performer,’ or ‘farmer’ apply to many different kinds of people doing different things,” said Iowa PBS Producer and Director Tyler Brinegar. “Every Iowan has a unique perspective and so much depends upon it.”
From a taxidermist and a homegrown record label to a garden ministry and a high-school theater troupe performing in a pandemic, the program introduces viewers to Iowans who are thriving in their own individual ways. Featured shorts include:
* Sidney Iowa Rodeo — For 96 years cowboys and cowgirls have come from far and wide to compete with the best at Rodeo Town USA.
* Upstaged by a Pandemic — After COVID-19 canceled their spring production, Spencer High School's musical theater department got creative.
* The Cricket Farmer — When Shelby Smith left her job in finance to move home to Iowa, she had a different kind of farming in mind.
* Soap Box Derby — Pat Nigon and his brother Chris fell in love with speed as young soap-box racers. Now a new generation of Nigons is learning how to win, lose, and spend time together.
* Father Brunkan's Grandfather Clocks — Monsignor Walter Brunkan has been an influence in his northeastern Iowa community for decades. As a clockmaker, he has given more than just his time.
* Dakotah Rose Taxidermy — Is it art or science? For Dakotah Rose Gould, taxidermy is both.
* Curious Music — There's an interesting sound coming from Eastern Iowa. Drop the needle on Russ Curry's Curious Music.
* The Asbury Garden Ministry — In 2002, Dave Phillips decided to use his passion for gardening to help others. Eighteen years later the Asbury Garden Ministry has delivered more than a half million pounds of fresh vegetables to the Quad Cities' hungry.
Learn more at iowapbs.org.
In addition to its statewide broadcast, Iowa PBS .1 is available to livestream on iowapbs.org/watch, pbs.org/livestream, the PBS Video App, and YouTube TV. Iowa PBS programs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more can be enjoyed on iowapbs.org, Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers can also stream their favorite shows on demand using the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, and many streaming devices.
As Iowa's only statewide television network, Iowa PBS's mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans guides its quality, non-commercial programming that tells Iowa's stories like no one else can. Four statewide, public channels offer programs of lasting value to Iowans, regardless of where they live or what they can afford: Iowa PBS .1, Iowa PBS KIDS .2, Iowa PBS WORLD .3 and Iowa PBS Create .4 on Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, Davenport; and Channel 36, Red Oak. More information can be found at iowapbs.org.
