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Modern Marvels to air 'Wheat'Soon, the average American will learn about wheat, what farmers have known all along: it's a big deal. From bread to beer, wheat feeds the world. And The History Channel will profile wheat on its Modern Marvels television series at 8 p.m., Central Time, Aug. 21. Viewers will learn the worldwide impact of wheat--a story that writer/producer Kaylan Eggert became fascinated with. "I had a fabulous time and met so many wonderful people," said Eggert, of her stint in Kansas and Oklahoma in June. Eggert works for Actuality Productions of Woodland Hills, Calif. Actuality produces the Modern Marvels series for The History Channel. The Aug. 21 program is the latest episode to focus on commodities, Eggert said. Last year, an episode featuring corn was very popular with viewers; this spring, Modern Marvels featured bread. Wheat was a logical choice for programming, Eggert said, and one that the program's research team tackled with gusto. "We have a research department that scours the Internet, newspapers and magazines for information," she said. "We looked to different associations, including Kansas Wheat, for information." Eggert collaborated with Kansas Wheat nutrition educator Cindy Falk and producer policy specialist Dana Peterson to learn about potential sources for the hour-long program. The pair gave background information on a number of the program's key segments. In Kansas, Eggert learned about baking bread, wheat variety research and wheat breeding. "I went to Wheatfields Bakery in Lawrence, where we learned about various wheat flours. Head baker Tom Leonard demonstrated ancient methods of bread-making, including adding water to flour ground with a mortar-and-pestle to make flat breads," Eggert said. The production crew toured AgriPro's wheat breeding center near Junction City to learn about the wheat breeding process. Interviews with Bob Bowden, plant pathologist for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service in Manhattan, are weaved throughout the show. The program also features segments with custom harvester Ron Misener of Elk City, Okla., who travels from Texas to North Dakota each year; a visit to Columbia Grain, an export elevator, where grain is processed and loaded onto ships; the ConAgra Mills domestic flour mill and a brewery at which grain is mashed into Hefeweizen, or wheat beer. The program traces wheat back thousands of years to its Middle Eastern origins and the future of wheat products, including the transformation of wheat into plastic-like utensils. Eggert and her production crew gathered more than 40 hours of video footage, which was condensed into the one-hour program. Along the way, she learned a great deal about the "Personally, I never knew there were so many different types of wheat, some of which are made into pastry, others into bread, or pasta. I was amazed at the global importance of wheat and how much we export as a country," she said. For the Chicago-born and Los Angeles-educated Eggert, the High Plains of Kansas and Oklahoma were a tremendous eye-opener--one she hopes will resonate with viewers. USDA's Bowden, whose comments are interspersed throughout the program, believes it will be a hit. "The way it has been edited and produced, it's really a heartwarming story. I would definitely recommend it. Anyone who has any interest at all in wheat, whether a producer or associated with the wheat industry, should make plans to watch it," he said. Modern Marvels Episode 456, "Wheat," premieres at 8 p.m. Central Time, Aug. 21 on The History Channel. Check local listings. Log onto: www.history.com for more information. 8/18/08 Date: 8/13/08
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