Finally, a film worth waiting for

By Jessica Domel

When I hear the word “documentary,” rarely does “Oh, I must see that” come to mind. In fact, it’s usually the farthest thing from it. Last week, the trailer for a new documentary changed that for me.

It’s called Farmland and it’s a feature-length film by award-winning filmmaker James Moll, with support from the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

You may recognize Moll’s name. He’s worked with Stephen Spielberg and Matt Damon on projects like Inheritance and The Last Days.

So what makes this documentary different from the rest?

It’s an inside look at farming and ranching across the United States. I know what you’re thinking. “What can he tell us about farming and ranching that we haven’t already seen somewhere else?”

A lot.

You see, I travel this great state talking to the farmers and ranchers who grow our food, fiber and fuel. And I can tell you that what a farmer in the Rio Grande Valley experiences can be vastly different from a farmer in the Winter Garden and the Panhandle.

Moll’s documentary features an up close and personal view of what it’s like to be a young farmer or rancher. He interviewed dozens of people involved in agriculture across the nation and chose six to highlight in the film.

He shows their heartaches, their triumphs and everything in between.

The film is designed to help those people who are removed from agriculture experience what it’s like on a farm or ranch right now–so they can see what work goes into growing the food, fiber and fuel our nation needs. But if you’re anything like my family—even if you’re involved in agriculture—you’ll want to see how other people experience the world of agriculture.

Check out the trailer. It’s online now.