Louisville, KY (June 15, 2012) – Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Bluegrass & Backroads, a 30-minute television program that explores the agricultural, cultural, historical and artistic stories unique to the state, was nominated this week for four Emmy® Awards.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced nominees for the 48th Annual Ohio Valley Regional Emmy® Awards, giving the nod to Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Bluegrass & Backroads once for Best Magazine Program and three times for Best Magazine Feature/Segment. This prestigious awards program recognizes the finest television and media professionals in the nation and bestows the highest possible honor to its winners – the Emmy®.

Bob Shrader and Matt Hilton make up Kentucky Farm Bureau’s two-man video production team, and are responsible for writing, filming, interviewing, hosting, directing and editing each show. The duo is now busy filming the 10th season of Bluegrass & Backroads.

“After producing television shows for more than 40 years, I can honestly say that Bluegrass & Backroads is probably one of the most unique and enjoyable programs I have ever had the pleasure to shoot and edit,” said Shrader. “The environment of Farm Bureau and the fun of working with Matt each day makes this show a joy to produce.”

In addition to the entire Bluegrass & Backroads show being nominated for an Emmy® Award, three individual segments from the program were also highlighted in the competition and include stories about: Justin Hatchett, a young man who survived a tractor rollover accident; a feature on the many talented musicians who make up the Louisville Youth Orchestra; and Cramer Schneider, a teenager who did not allow the physical limitations of being blind prevent him from showing award-winning cattle.

“We put a lot of work into producing the show, but it is quite humbling to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” said Hilton. “It really comes back to the fact that we have such amazing people, places and events in Kentucky. I’m just blessed to be able to present it each week.”

The Ohio Valley Chapter of NATAS will unveil the official winners of the coveted Emmy® Awards on July 28th during a black-tie dinner held at Belterra Casino, Resort and Spa in Florence, Indiana.

Including this year’s four nominations, Bluegrass & Backroads has now been nominated for a total of seven Emmy® Awards over the show’s history. In 2009, the program won two Emmys® – one for Best Magazine and one for Best Photography.

Bluegrass & Backroads is a weekly program aired regionally on the Kentucky Educational Television (KET) networks, and nationally via satellite on RFD-TV through Dish Network, DirecTV and several major cable outlets. For a complete list of the stations and schedule on which Bluegrass & Backroads airs, or to view the Emmy®-nominated segments and other episodes streaming online, visit bluegrassandbackroads.com.

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