Vrrrooommm - Farming for Kids

 

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Rainbow Communications

Mission:

Rainbow Communications was founded in 1994 by Executive Producer Bill Wickham with the simple goal of helping children understand that the food chain begins long before the grocery store. With the original intention of producing one or two videos, we have learned over time that there is a tremendous demand for programming like ours. We continually receive feedback from teachers, parents, and children encouraging us to explore different segments of agriculture and even non-ag oriented topics.

Teachers like our videos because they provide an easy classroom link for them on a topic that many have no first hand experience in. Our "Apple Farming for Kids" is especially popular in the classroom during the fall, when many educators include a unit (some even a field trip) on apples.

Parents tell us that they like to be able to offer their children our videos since they are not only fun, but also educational. They like the idea that their children can learn something while watching our wholesome, non-violent programming. We also hear from many adults who tell us they have enjoyed the videos while watching with their young ones (or yes, some even watch by themselves…).

Our most important critics, children, tell us that our programs are FUN TO WATCH! They like all of the big tractors and farm machinery, the animals, the automated gizmos in the processing and packaging plants, the music, and Farmer Bill. We often hear that our videos are watched over and over again. We get several calls a week from parents wanting to know if we have new titles. They tell us that their children have watched our videos so many times that the whole family knows them by heart. We've even heard from a parent who said their son dressed up as Farmer Bill for Halloween!

How the Vrrrooommm - Farming for Kids Idea was Born:

As Executive Producer Bill Wickham and Associate Producer Debbie Wickham started their young family, they quickly realized that children are fascinated by farm machinery. As working parents, they also recognized that videos are sometimes utilized as a means of occupying children while various tasks are completed (i.e. making dinner). They also knew that many people in today's fast paced world never stop to think where their food comes from. After a brainstorming session with Producer/Director Dave Conyer, the idea for the Vrrrooommm - Farming for Kids series was born.

Our Team Members:

Having grown up on a large family farm in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, Bill is very familiar with modern agriculture and has extensive contacts within the industry. A graduate of Cornell University's college of Agriculture & Life Sciences, he still is a part time farmer who grows over 50 acres of "Pick Your Own" pumpkins.

Bill is responsible for researching ideas for new video topics as well as script development. He also oversees all on location production as well as post-production activities.

Also a graduate of Cornell University, from the College of Engineering, Debbie grew up in the Queens, a borough of New York City. Debbie and her family helped Bill realize that not everyone grows up on a farm! Debbie's roles include script revisions (she cuts out half of what Bill writes), video continuity checking, and video jacket design.

Bruce has been an integral part of the Vrrrooommm - Farming for Kids series since it's inception. As our on camera narrator, he has that special ability to speak to young viewers in a way that makes him their friend. Although Bruce is not actually a Farmer, he loves donning his "work clothes" and joining us on location. He also thinks it's fun when his role calls for the driving of big tractors!

Dave has extensive experience in children's television production having worked over the years with such talents as Fred Rogers. Dave is responsible for taking Executive Producer Bill Wickham's vision and making it work on screen. He has the uncanny ability to look at a script and location, then be able to make on the fly revisions that make the various scenes work. He also assembles the program and decides which parts of the footage should be included and which belong "on the edit room floor."

Have you ever wondered how we get some of the camera angles in the Vrrrooommm - Farming for Kids videos? Ray is always dedicated to getting the best shots. No matter what Dave Conyer thinks up, Ray is ready to capture it on video. He is also the post production editor for each of the programs.

Caroline takes care of all of the final graphic design and layout for both the videos and VHS jackets.

Allen composes and records all of the music for each program. After the final video content is determined and edited, Allen composes the music to match the images. Many of Allen's melodies are stuck in the minds of parents and children who watch our programs.

Robin has written and recorded the lyrics for the jingles in both Vrrrooommm 3 - Apple Farming for Kids and Vrrrooommm 4 - Citrus Farming for Kids. She has a wonderful voice, and an amazing ability to create fun songs that kids love to sing along with.