FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences is welcoming students, faculty and staff back for the fall semester with a screening of the film Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman on Friday.

The screening is at 6 p.m. in the John W. Tyson Building’s (poultry science) Leland Tollett Auditorium (Room A211). The event is free and open to everyone on campus.

The film tells stories of individuals dedicated to feeding the world while stewarding natural resources. Those featured include Justin Knopf, a fifth-generation Kansas commodity farmer revolutionizing agriculture to rebuild the fertility, biodiversity and resilience of his soils and protect downstream waters from pollution. Knopf is making long-term investments to ensure future generations of farmers inherit productive lands.

"I have had an opportunity to preview this film and know it examines issues many of our students and alumni will face during their careers," said Bumpers College interim Dean Lona Robertson. "We were given the opportunity to share it, and we think it will be a fun, educational and thought-provoking way to ease students into the fall semester. We're looking forward to showing it and generating some discussion."

Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman, which airs Aug. 31 on the Discovery Channel and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is based on the book by Miriam Horn. The documentary was directed by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Susan Froemke and Emmy winner John Hoffman.  

"This film gives the world an honest depiction of modern commercial food producers, introducing us to some of the many who strive to be true stewards, while showing the gritty reality of how tough that stewardship can be," said Greg Horstmeier, editor in chief of DTN/The Progressive Farmer.

Free food and drinks will be provided.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.