CLEMSON — A program produced by Clemson University and South Carolina ETV is adding more accolades to its trophy case for a segment on prescribed burning in the forestry industry and its holiday special.
“Making It Grow,” an interactive live call-in program produced by the state’s primary land-grant institution and public educational broadcasting network, garnered two 2019 Telly Awards: a Bronze Telly in the Television: Education category for the Prescribed Burns segment and a Bronze Telly in the Television: Information category for its Holiday Special.
Now in its 40th year, the Telly Awards annually showcase the best work in television and video. Receiving more than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents, Telly Award-winners represent work from some of the world’s most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers.
Prescribed burning is an important part of forest management and to learn more on the topic, Clemson Cooperative Extension agent and “Making It Grow” host Amanda McNulty visited Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center (REC) near Columbia to see prescribed burns.
“‘Making It Grow’ provides researched-based information on sustainable landscaping practices presented in an informal and engaging fashion,” McNulty said. “[Forestry agent] Ryan Bean demonstrated and explained precautions and regulations necessary for safe and successful prescribed burns.”
McNulty said a U.S. Forestry Service agent wrote that the segment was “a true public service,” as the distance between the rural and urban interface gets smaller in a state where forestry is the largest single contributor to its economy.
“‘Making It Grow’ visited Sandhill Research and Education Center last year to feature the work Ryan Bean, Cody Bishop and I are doing with prescribed fire, longleaf pine and early successional plant community management,” said Cory Heaton, assistant director at Sandhill REC. “We had a blast working with them and they did a great job showcasing our research and demonstration efforts.”
The “Making It Grow” holiday special featured poinsettias, wreaths, winter strawberries, egg gourds and a Charlotte Russe recipe.
“Our holiday program not only showed the importance of Clemson professor Jim Faust’s work on poinsettia production, but agent Tony Melton promoted the nursery industry in his display of wreath-making plant material, while other segments celebrated the traditions that fill the holidays with joy,” McNulty said.
This year’s Telly Awards had a “record-shattering” number of entries, according to Managing Director Sabrina Dridje. The entrants represented the most innovative video and television work being made for all screens.
“Making It Grow” features, along with McNulty, fellow Extension agent Terasa Lott and guests, including Extension agents and horticulturists who focus on gardening topics while highlighting interesting places and products from around the state.
“For more than 25 years, ‘Making it Grow’ has been a staple for SCETV and a tremendous resource for the people of this state. Knowing all the hard work that goes into producing a weekly, interactive show, I’m elated that ‘Making it Grow’ is getting the recognition that it so rightfully deserves,” said SCETV President and CEO Anthony Padgett.
“Making It Grow” airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on ETV and at 8 p.m. on the SC Channel and at 3:30 p.m. Saturdays on the SC Channel.
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