Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman

Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman is a compelling documentary film released in 2017. Narrated by the iconic American journalist, Tom Brokaw, the movie intertwines the lives of three ordinary Americans-Dusty Crary, a rancher from Montana; Justin Knopf, a farmer from Kansas; and Wayne Werner, a fisherman from the Gulf Coast. Each of these men, in their own unique ways, stands atop the frontier of sustainable practices, an area often ensnared in political turmoil and ideological debates.

The film embarks audiences on a journey steeped in American history and landscape, while revolving around the themes of stewardship, sustainability, and conservation. It hails from co-directors Susan Froemke and John Hoffman and is based on the book written by Miriam Horn, which shares the same title.

Dusty Crary, a Montana rancher, lives amid the visually breathtaking and wildlife-rich landscapes of the Rocky Mountain Front. The film traces Crary's pioneering efforts to preserve the pristine nature of this rugged country for future generations while maintaining a functional and profitable ranching operation. Incidentally, his ranching strategies protect endangered species and safeguard the water supply, demonstrating that environmental conservation and agricultural businesses need not be mutually exclusive.

In the American heartland, five generations deep in Kansas, viewers then meet the farmer Justin Knopf. As a steward of the soil, he endeavours to feed an ever-growing global population. Knopf resists practices of industrial agriculture, instead working to build the resilience of his soil to weather increasingly unpredictable climates. The film beautifully captures his endeavors in utilizing innovative, science-guided farming practices to protect the Kansas landscape and preserve the fertile grounds for future generations.

Finally, rounding off the trifecta of stewards is Wayne Werner, a commercial fisherman from the Gulf Coast. Werner continually campaigns for fishing practices that don't deplete fish stocks, thereby ensuring the livelihoods of fishing communities and the sustainability of the oceans. His fight against overfishing contributes meaningfully to preserving the longevity and ecological balance of the marine world.

While telling these stories, "Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman" unveils the unsung heroes of America's nurtured landscapes, not often lauded in mainstream narratives. These men aren't celebrities or activists but ordinary individuals endeavouring to preserve the gifts of nature that America inherited.

Their stories challenge the oft-polarized debate surrounding environmentalism by underlining their conservation-as-stewardship approach. In doing so, it introduces not environmental heroes, but betterment heroes who strive to improve the world for later generations. While doing this, the film also subtly reminds us of the potential harm our actions inflict on our ecosystems, arguing that the practices of these individuals, when scaled, can lead to a more sustainable future.

Visually, the film is a feast, capturing the stunning beauty of rural America. From the wild, rugged beauty of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front to the sweeping landscapes of Kansas farmlands to the vast expanses of the Gulf waters, the filmmakers masterfully balance a compelling narrative with striking cinematography. Equally impressive is the film's balanced delivery of its message. It isn't heavy-handed with its agenda; rather, it underlines the salient truth about conservation: that it benefits all of us and involves everyone.

The film premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and later secured a spot on Discovery. It's a potent and hopeful exploration of how stewardship of the land and sea can lead to a more sustainable world. It's also one of the few entries in the climate filmography tackling rural America and its people directly.

Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman, in essence, is a powerful tribute to the little-known Americans insisting on a brighter future for their industries and the planet. It's a hopeful narrative that makes the case for conservation being a core value around which all—the left and right, rural and urban, the environment and the economy—should coalesce. Indeed, this film leaves a lingering impression of optimism and individual potential, making it a must-watch for those interested in environmental debates, American landscapes, and the power of everyday heroes.