FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 13, 2019
FARM AID CONTACT:
Faith James
(202) 248-5450
fjames@vancomm.com
WKOW CONTACT:
Ed Reams
(608)-661-2743
ereams@wkow.com
Quincy Media and Farm Aid to Host Telethon for Farm Relief
MADISON, Wis. — The ongoing crisis in farm country is directly impacting family farmers in the Upper Midwest, including Wisconsin. Like farmers across the country, the region’s farmers are experiencing the impacts of intensifying corporate consolidation, a multi-year downturn in the U.S. agricultural economy, rising production costs, diminished crop yields from extreme weather this spring and market disruptions due to trade wars.
To help support family famers, Quincy Media Television stations in Wisconsin (WKOW, WAOW, WXOW, WQOW and KBJR) and Farm Aid will team up to host a live, 18-hour telethon on Friday, September 20, 2019, to encourage viewers to donate money on air and online to raise funds that provide support, emergency relief and other resources for family farmers in the region. Anchors and reporters from all five television stations will be hosting this live event, and updates will be provided on air and on Facebook. Volunteers will be answering phones throughout the day collecting donations.
“Wisconsin farmers, as well as farmers throughout the entire Upper Midwest, have been hit hard and the future of the family farm remains in jeopardy. Farming is an important part of Wisconsin’s culture, and dairy farms in particular are an important economic engine that power this state,” said Ed Reams, news director for WKOW. “Our partnership between Farm Aid and Quincy Media will help bring attention to these challenges and allow the great people of Wisconsin the opportunity to reach out to help.”
Donations can be made online anytime at www.farmaid.org/wisfarm or over the phone on Friday, September 20, at 1-833-WIS-FARM. Phone lines will be open from 5 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Online donations will be available beginning Wednesday, September 18, until Sunday, September 22, 2019.
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