'The American Farm,' an eight-part documentary about five farm families, has started on the History Channel

The Robertsons of Contoocook, N.H., have a dairy farm.

A new documentary series, "The American Farm," began last night on the History Channel, "telling the story of five family farms across America facing the risk and reward of chasing the American Dream," Austin Anderson reports for Successful Farming. "The eight-part series comes from producers Thom Beers and Jeff Conroy, who have produced popular shows like 'Deadliest Catch' and 'Storage Wars'."

"Beers grew up around farms in upstate New York," Anderson writes. "He was familiar with the inside world of agriculture, and the passion and sacrifices needed to make the operation run. . . . As a storyteller, he was surprised that he’d never seen a great series showcasing the authentic life of farmers." But as he developed the concept, "He didn’t think the audience was ready. Major networks didn’t think the idea of documenting the life of farmers would be exciting enough for television."

But now, “I think the curiosity of people in urban areas [has increased]. All of a sudden there is a heightened awareness of the quality of food. We’re trying to explain where it all comes from and the struggle to get it there.” The farm families are in New Hampshire, Utah, Virginia, Alaska, and Tennessee. The shows can be viewed online; the next telecast is scheduled for noon Sunday.