This Week in Louisiana Agriculture
Encyclopedia
This Week in Louisiana Agriculture, or TWILA, is an agricultural television program produced by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. The 30-minute weekly program airs across Louisiana and nationwide on the RFD-TV
network. TWILA's team of reporters and producers tell the story of Louisiana agriculture from the perspective of both farmers and consumers.
Public Relations Director, Regnal Wallace, created This Week in Louisiana Agriculture in 1981 and the show became the state's first television farm news program. TWILA signed on the air with CBS affiliate KNOE-TV 8 in Monroe, Louisiana
on September 24, 1981. CBS affiliate WAFB-TV 9 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) followed suit three weeks later. Within a few months the program was on KALB-TV 5 in Alexandria and KATC-TV 3 in Lafayette. By 1984, Shreveport station KTAL-TV 6 picked up the program, followed by Lake Charles station KPLC-TV 7 in 1986. To date, it is the only statewide television program in Louisiana dedicated to agricultural and consumer news.
In its early days, TWILA consisted of just three staffers, host Regnal Wallace, producer and reporter Kevin Wagner and reporter Sandy Lewis. In 1983, reporter Robbie Curry replaced Sandy Lewis and in 1984 producer David Langley joined the staff after Kevin Wagner left the show. In June 1985 host Michael Danna joined the staff as a reporter. Danna began hosting the program in 1997, upon the retirement of creator Regnal Wallace.
TWILA covered traditional row crop agriculture in its early years; however, the show evolved to cover niche market crops, human-interest stories and governmental, environmental and consumer issues. The show was cited by a member of the state’s Senate Ag Committee as a “video lesson on the importance of Louisiana agriculture.”
In 2003, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture broadened its news coverage by reporting on agricultural issues from Japan, Chile, Argentina, Israel, China, Brazil, Colombia and Panama.
This Week in Louisiana Agriculture is watched weekly by more than 500,000 viewers on 17 broadcast and cable stations across Louisiana and nationally on RFD-TV
. The program is one of the longest-running television programs produced in Louisiana, second only to Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s “Louisiana: The State We’re In.”
Over the years, the program has been recognized for its reporting by the American Farm Bureau Federation
, the Telly Awards
and the Hermes Creative Awards. TWILA has garnered four Telly Awards, earning honors for its reporting on the British Petroleum oil disaster in April 2010 and for its coverage marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. TWILA also received two Hermes Creative Awards, a gold and platinum, for its news coverage on the "This Week in Your Town: Portales, New Mexico" and the British Petroleum oil disaster stories.
In March 2011, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture received three Telly Awards
for coverage on the “This Week in Your Town: Portales New Mexico,” “5 Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina” and the “BP Oil Spill” episodes.
In May 2011, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture received two Hermes Creative Awards for coverage on the “This Week in Your Town: Portales New Mexico,” and the “BP Oil Spill” episodes.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization representing farmers, ranchers, and rural residents. The organization's provides assistance toward the development and prosperity of Louisiana agriculture. It is a private, non-profit, non-governmental agency...
based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. The 30-minute weekly program airs across Louisiana and nationwide on the RFD-TV
RFD-TV
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons...
network. TWILA's team of reporters and producers tell the story of Louisiana agriculture from the perspective of both farmers and consumers.
History
Former Louisiana Farm Bureau FederationLouisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization representing farmers, ranchers, and rural residents. The organization's provides assistance toward the development and prosperity of Louisiana agriculture. It is a private, non-profit, non-governmental agency...
Public Relations Director, Regnal Wallace, created This Week in Louisiana Agriculture in 1981 and the show became the state's first television farm news program. TWILA signed on the air with CBS affiliate KNOE-TV 8 in Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
on September 24, 1981. CBS affiliate WAFB-TV 9 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) followed suit three weeks later. Within a few months the program was on KALB-TV 5 in Alexandria and KATC-TV 3 in Lafayette. By 1984, Shreveport station KTAL-TV 6 picked up the program, followed by Lake Charles station KPLC-TV 7 in 1986. To date, it is the only statewide television program in Louisiana dedicated to agricultural and consumer news.
In its early days, TWILA consisted of just three staffers, host Regnal Wallace, producer and reporter Kevin Wagner and reporter Sandy Lewis. In 1983, reporter Robbie Curry replaced Sandy Lewis and in 1984 producer David Langley joined the staff after Kevin Wagner left the show. In June 1985 host Michael Danna joined the staff as a reporter. Danna began hosting the program in 1997, upon the retirement of creator Regnal Wallace.
TWILA covered traditional row crop agriculture in its early years; however, the show evolved to cover niche market crops, human-interest stories and governmental, environmental and consumer issues. The show was cited by a member of the state’s Senate Ag Committee as a “video lesson on the importance of Louisiana agriculture.”
In 2003, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture broadened its news coverage by reporting on agricultural issues from Japan, Chile, Argentina, Israel, China, Brazil, Colombia and Panama.
This Week in Louisiana Agriculture is watched weekly by more than 500,000 viewers on 17 broadcast and cable stations across Louisiana and nationally on RFD-TV
RFD-TV
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons...
. The program is one of the longest-running television programs produced in Louisiana, second only to Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s “Louisiana: The State We’re In.”
Over the years, the program has been recognized for its reporting by the American Farm Bureau Federation
American Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation , commonly referred to as the Farm Bureau, is a nonprofit organization and the largest general farm organization in the United States...
, the Telly Awards
Telly Awards
The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
and the Hermes Creative Awards. TWILA has garnered four Telly Awards, earning honors for its reporting on the British Petroleum oil disaster in April 2010 and for its coverage marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. TWILA also received two Hermes Creative Awards, a gold and platinum, for its news coverage on the "This Week in Your Town: Portales, New Mexico" and the British Petroleum oil disaster stories.
Awards
In March 2010, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture received its first Telly Award for coverage on the "This Week in Your Town: Dothan, Alabama” episode.In March 2011, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture received three Telly Awards
Telly Awards
The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
for coverage on the “This Week in Your Town: Portales New Mexico,” “5 Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina” and the “BP Oil Spill” episodes.
In May 2011, This Week in Louisiana Agriculture received two Hermes Creative Awards for coverage on the “This Week in Your Town: Portales New Mexico,” and the “BP Oil Spill” episodes.