The Wheat Harvest Movie

Preparations for USCHI Convention

Conjostudios, LLC — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:44:24 +0000

USCHI CONVENTION
I’m making my final plans for the US Custom Harvesters convention March 1-3 in Grand Island, NE. I will be there representing the Wheat Harvest Movie and talking with people about the project and what we’re planning on doing with the film. I’ve printed my Wheat Harvest Business cards, and am working on a banner and other items for the booth.

My goal at convention is to raise awareness about the movie, and raise additional funds so we can begin production in May. My plan is to be in Texas in mid-late May to meet several crews who will begin harvest there. We’ll then be catching up with harvest crews off and on all Summer long, and probably even into the Fall of 2012. Be sure to check back to this blog for updates all throughout the convention, and perhaps even a LIVE video stream from the exhibit hall floor. More about that later.

NAWG OPEN HOUSE
Several weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the National Association of Wheat Growers open house event. I met a ton of wheat growers and leaders of wheat organizations from all over the USA. It was a great event and it was awesome to meet so many people who are heavily involved in the wheat industry. Senator Baucus from Montana joined the group there and gave a short talk. (See photo).

NAME THAT MOVIE
As you may know the title: Wheat Harvest Movie is our current working title. It’s not the final name of this documentary. I’d love to hear your ideas for a name for our movie. Send me an email or message though this blog or through Facebook.

That’s all for this week… More updates coming next week.

Conrad
Producer/Director
The Wheat Harvest Movie
www.WheatHarvestMovie.com

Making Connections on Twitter

Conjostudios, LLC — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:59:04 +0000

Last evening I participated in the #agchat conversations on Twitter. If you’ve never participated, or are not on Twitter, I encourage you to sign up and join in. #agchat is a weekly chat session (Every Tuesday at 8PM EST) with people from all over the USA and from around the world who are involved in agriculture. This chat is usually sponsored by the AgChat Foundation. Each #agchat session has a moderator who poses questions for discussion, last night’s theme revolved around jobs/college degrees in agriculture. These sessions always give me an opportunity to talk about the Wheat Harvest Movie, and last night was no exception. At the beginning of each chat session there is time for introductions, then at the end we’re given opportunity to make a pitch, so that’s where I promote the film. The result is that I usually gain a number of followers for the @wheat_harvest twitter account, and I make meaningful connections with people interested in the project.

So, in case you’re wondering, here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a Twitter account if you don’t have one already. My accounts are @wheat_harvest and @conjostudios.

2. Use Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to manage your twitter feeds. These applications will help you manage your tweets, and make it easier to follow specific conversations like #agchat. I like TweetDeck, mostly because I’m more familiar with it,but it is an application you’ll have to download to your computer. Hootsuite is great as well, and will work right in your web browser. There are also applications you can download for your smartphone if you want to go that route.

3. Begin following people (you can start with the @wheat_harvest twitter feeds) and then follow the #agchat hashtag. words with the # symbol in front are keywords you can find on Twitter. When you begin following a particular hashtag like #agchat, you can see all the tweets from people using that hashtag. And you can see past conversations in the #agchat archives.

To some of you, this is basic stuff, but if you’re still confused… just join me on Twitter, and I’ll help you. I hope to see you at the next #agchat!

Update of our Supporter List

Conjostudios, LLC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:23:24 +0000

I wanted to bring everyone up to date on who is supporting the Wheat Harvest Movie. We are so grateful for everyone who has made a financial contribution toward the completion of the Wheat Harvest Movie. The US Custom Harvesters are our Platinum Level Sponsor at $35,000.00; we’re so grateful for their partnership in this project. The supporters listed below have made contributions ranging from $25.00 to $500.00, their generosity is an indication of the importance that wheat harvest plays in American agriculture. If you haven’t already made a contribution, please consider what you can do to support this important film. Without the generosity of our sponsors and supporters this story will not get told.

Click here to make a contribution.

Our Supporters
Misener Family Harvesting, Inc.
JKD Harvesting, Inc.
Herberg Harvesting
Shane Johnson
Jim Zeorian Harvesting & Trucking
Adams Harvesting
Kuntz Harvesting
David Studer
Kathy Afzali
Adam Schwartz
Clifford Preston
Darrell, Jason, & Josh Wagner
Judith Hayhurst
Timothy and Katie Crowley
Moriah Wagner
Lynn Prevost
Ernst Lutz
Anthony Gettig

Make a contribution.

Heading to Convention

Conjostudios, LLC — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

On March 1-3 we’ll be attending the annual US Custom Harvesters convention in Grand Island, NE. We’ll be setting up an booth in the exhibit hall and talking with tons of people involved in the wheat harvest industry. We’re looking forward to connecting with harvesters, vendors, equipment dealers, growers and more! Be sure to let us know if you’re coming as well, we’d love to see you!

We’re working on putting together our booth space. We’ll have T-shirts to sell and give away, movie posters, and DVDs of the trailer. We’ll also have sponsorship forms for anyone who wants to come on board as a sponsor. We’re still needing to raise quite a bit of money in order to make this movie project a reality. So if you haven’t already made a contribution and would like to do so, please visit www.wheatharvestmovie.com and click on the “DONATE” button. Or if you’re a business and would like to be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze sponsor, send me an email and I’ll send you a sponsorship packet.

Until next time, have a great day!

Custom Wheat Harvesters to be Featured in Documentary

Conjostudios, LLC — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:15:10 +0000

Original Article provided by Kansas Wheat Commission

Nov 23, 2011

Listen to the audio version here.

Promoting the 2013 feature film, “The Wheat Harvest Movie” are producer Conrad Weaver, custom harvesters Tracy and Jenna Zeorian and Moriah Wagner, movie publicist.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – For most communities throughout the Wheat Belt, harvest represents two weeks of non-stop action, one time a year. Custom crews hired to bring in the crop, however, spend four months battling Mother Nature, weariness, and breakdowns.

The plight of custom harvesting operations will be chronicled in an upcoming documentary entitled, “The Wheat Harvest Movie.” Currently in production by Conjostudios, LLC, it will debut in 2013. The operation owned by Jim and Tracy Zeorian is one of several to be featured in the movie, which according to producer/director Conrad Weaver will “… tell the stories, struggles and pleasure that custom harvesters share in time spent with family and friends harvesting the wheat that feeds the world.”

Several additional custom harvesting operations will be profiled, including JKD Harvesting of Colby; Misener Family Harvesters of Elk City, Oklahoma and Braathen Harvesting, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Tracy Zeorian, who is president of the U.S. Custom Harvesters Association, Inc., says being a custom harvester gets into one’s blood.

I’ve oftentimes said it is more of an addiction than anything. It’s something that you just love. It’s your lifestyle, like a farmer. It keeps you going, because that’s what you’ve been involved with. We’re ready to go as soon as the combine is put away, we’re looking forward to the next spring again,” Tracy says.

The Zeorian crew hails from Manley, Nebraska. Since 2009, its annual harvest campaign (along with that of three other crews) has been chronicled in a popular feature called, “All Aboard Harvest,” in the High Plains Journal newspaper. The All Aboard Harvest series has generated global interest in the custom harvesting business and the people who own and operate these custom harvest crews.

“I think the people that have found the HPJ series have enjoyed the stories they hear from the correspondents. It comes from the heart. People see that and realize how important we are in the link between the farmer and the market,” Tracy says.

The Zeorian crew has a rich history. About 60 years ago, Tracy’s grandfather and his brother founded their own custom operation. Tracy became a part of that crew as a 12-year-old girl, who wanted to help her grandmother keep the crew’s living quarters clean. Tracy’s grandfather invited her out to the field one day, and “…when grandpa taught me how to run the combine, I was hooked,” she recalled.

Tracy met her husband on the crew in 1975. He was a hired man, who eventually bought a combine of his own. In 1990, Jim and Tracy to took off on their own; now they run one combine and a truck, making stops in five states. Youngest daughter Taylor works in the family’s camper-trailer, cleaning, preparing meals and performing chores. Tracy drives a truck and Jim runs the combine. Older daughters Jenna and Jamie have also worked in the family business. Jim and Tracy’s youngest daughter is Callie.

“We get along very well. Everyone works together; no one job is more important than the other. We’re a team and we pull together. And once the job is done we load up, hit the road and start all over again,” Tracy said.

Taylor, Jenna and Jamie represent the fourth generation of Zeorians to make the harvest run. Tracy is involved in the U.S. Custom Harvesters Association, Inc., in part to ensure the industry’s future.

“There is another generation of harvesters that and that excites the heck out of me, because it will continue, just like farming,” she said. “I just hope the rules and regulations don’t discourage the young people.”

For more about the Jenna Zeorian’s All Aboard Wheat Harvest blog and photos, click on this link to the High Plains Journal project.

To view the trailer for the upcoming film, “The Wheat Harvest Movie,” click here.

Productive Meetings in Kansas

Conjostudios, LLC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:31:14 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

On November 16 and 17, several of us met in Manhattan, KS to talk with potential supporters and sponsors about the Wheat Harvest Movie. Attending the two-day meetings were Conrad Weaver, Director/Producer, Tracy Zeorian, Sponsor & President of USCHI and her daughter Jenna, and Moriah Wagner who helps with PR and Marketing for the Wheat Harvest Movie. We were privileged to attend a meeting with the reigning Miss America, Teresa Scanlan.

Along with meeting with Miss America, we met with Kerry Boydston Wefald from the Kansas FFA Foundation; Elaine H. Edwards, Coordinator at News Media and Marketing for K-State Research and Extension; Bill Spiegel with the Kansas Wheat Commission &
Kansas Assn. of Wheat Growers; Mark Fowler: International Grains Program and Grain Science Industry at Kansas State University; and Brian Strouts at AIB International.

We also stopped by the Kansas Farm Bureau and Tall Grass Brewing Company where we sampled a great wheat beer!

It was a very educational two days, and we hope that a number of these organizations will come on board with us as sponsors. Thanks to Moriah Wagner who did a great job of coordinating these meetings!

Meetings in Manhattan, KS

Conjostudios, LLC — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:13:00 +0000

Today, I’m on my way to Manhattan, KS for couple of days of important meetings with a number of agriculture organizations, Kansas State University, and the current Miss America, Teresa Scanlan. Moriah Wagner, our public relations assistant for the Wheat Harvest Movie has been working hard to arrange these meetings. Tracy Zeorian, President of the US Custom Harvesters, Inc. will also be joining us. The USCHI is the platinum sponsor for the movie. We’re looking forward to presenting the story of the Wheat Harvest Movie to the following people and organizations:

The International Grains Program and Grain Science Industry at Kansas State University.

K-State Food For Thought, College of Agriculture and Miss America, Teresa Scanlan

Kansas FFA Foundation

American Agri-Women

Bill Spiegel with the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers

Kansas Farm Bureau

AIB International

As you can see, we have a very full schedule. Our goal is to bring on a number of new sponsors who will partner with us in telling this important story! I’ll be sure to post updates and photos after our meetings.

- Conrad

Wear your T-Shirt!

Conjostudios, LLC — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:14:14 +0000

PHOTO OP…. if you’ve received a Wheat Harvest Movie T-Shirt… put it on, take a photo and post it here! Let’s begin raising the awareness for this movie project! Support the movie by wearing the T-shirt. If you’ve NOT received one, order your today for $20, or make a $100 contribution to the project. www.wheatharvestmovie.com

The Wheat Harvest Movie (trailer)

Conjostudios, LLC — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:52:06 +0000

Update on the Wheat Harvest Movie

Conjostudios, LLC — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:18:15 +0000

Jim Zeorian checks condition of wheat

If you’re wondering whether the Wheat Harvest Movie project is still on…the answer is a huge YES!! We’ve shot our initial footage this summer (read about our harvest adventures on the blog site: http://wheatharvestmovie.wordpress.com/ ) and are now working on raising the rest of the funds we need to make this movie happen.

Our plan moving forward is as follows:

1. Finish working on an updated movie trailer that we can use for promotions and fund-raising.

2. Raise the funds we need from companies that support the harvest: John Deere, New Holland, AGCO, Kansas Farm Bureau, and others. We’re also working on writing for grants from foundations and other organizations. We’re so glad the US Custom Harvesters organization has come on board as our primary sponsor! Without them, we couldn’t have even begun working on this!!

3. Next spring (2012) we begin full production on the film, following the harvest start to finish. We’ll begin by attending the USCHI convention in Grand Island, NE in March. We’ll then connect with our harvest crews at their home bases to film harvest preparations and follow them on their harvest run.

4. We’ll wrap up production in the Fall of 2012, begin editing, and have a finished product ready for national broadcast and distribution early in 2013. We hope to be able to have a premier at the same time as the 2013 USCHI convention; we’ll keep you posted on this.

Thanks for your interest, and please pass this information on to everyone who may be interested!

Conrad Weaver
Producer/Director, The Wheat Harvest Movie

PS: follow the Wheat Harvest Movie on Twitter: @wheat_harvest