CLEMSON, S.C. — The Emmy Award-winning “Making It Grow” gardening show has three Telly Awards to add to its slate of accolades.
This is the fourth year Clemson University Extension’s Amanda McNulty, Sean Flynn and the rest of the crew of “Making It Grow” have won prestigious Telly Awards. The live, interactive show — which is produced by SCETV and Clemson University — has won 15 Telly Awards overall since 2000. McNulty said she and the crew are honored to have received these awards.
“It’s exciting that our team was chosen by peers in the industry,” McNulty said. “Our most important mission is to help people use environmentally sustainable methods and still be successful in growing plants. To do that we emphasize identifying the problem before taking action — is it an insect or a disease? — and how to choose the correct way of controlling it. By encouraging our viewers to make careful choices in selecting plants, in placing them properly in their landscape or garden and using thoughtful cultural practices, we help them reduce plant stress which results in healthier plants more resistant to pests.”
Flynn, who has been the show’s producer since 1999, agreed.
“One aspect that I am really thrilled about is that we won in three different categories,” Flynn said. “That speaks to the wide variety of topics we highlight and to the overall quality in covering different subject matter. This is great recognition for the entire team.”
The “entire team” includes a lot of people who work to make the show a success, McNulty said.
“With the support of my fellow Extension agents and industry professionals who so generously serve as panelists and our ‘behind the scene’ technical support crew from SCETV and Clemson, we want ‘Making It Grow’ to help our viewers make decisions knowing what the results will be,” she said. “Equally important is our association with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Certified SC Grown program and the South Carolina Specialty Foods Association. By encouraging viewers to preferentially support our South Carolina farmers, we strive to help them stay in business and protect our agricultural heritage.”
Awards the show received this year include one in the Nature/Wildlife category. This award was presented for the “Making It Grow – From Seeds to Shoreline” field segment. In this segment, McNulty travels to James Island near Charleston and learns firsthand about the program with Clemson water resources agent Kim Counts Morganello. This program engages students in restoring Spartina alterniflora, the dominant plant in the salt marsh.
“From ‘Seeds to Shoreline’ is led by South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Clemson Cooperative Extension Service,” Morganello said. “Appearing on the Making It Grow show has provided an excellent opportunity for our agencies to collaborate and leverage resources, increasing our ability to involve thousands of students in salt marsh restoration activities.”
Another award was given in the Health and Wellness Division for a segment which brought the crew to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Protection Division. In this segment, “Making It Grow – Consumer Protection Division,” McNulty talks with the Department of Agriculture’s Derek Underwood about the many responsibilities they have and the methods they use to keep the citizens of South Carolina safe. Publicity such as this plays a vital role in helping Underwood’s department protect South Carolina residents.
“’Making it Grow’ and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture partnership allows families and viewers in South Carolina to experience the services and protection the South Carolina Department of Agriculture provides for the public,” said Underwood, assistant commissioner of the Consumer Protection Division. “’Making it Grow’ remains a vital part in the collaborative effort to inform and update the citizens of South Carolina with the intricacies and importance of South Carolina agriculture.”
The third Telly was given for a segment “Making It Grow – Spring Floral Arrangements” in the How-To/Do-It-Yourself Division. This segment involves Katie Dickson of Moore Farms Botanical Garden demonstrating how to create flower arrangements. Dickson said she is truly honored to have had an opportunity to appear on “Making It Grow.”
“The opportunity to speak on ‘Making It Grow’ is a special one,” Dickson said. “I truly enjoy sharing information on pollinators, floral arts and landscape plants with our viewers. I look forward to an involvement with the show for years to come.”
In addition to McNulty and Flynn, the “Making It Grow” crew includes Extension natural resources agent Terasa Lott, who moderates the “Chat Room,” and horticulture agents Tony Melton and Vicky Bertagnolli, who are regular panelists. Behind the scene is a host of experts, including station manager Craig Ness, Tommy Burgess, Kevin Jordan, Al Newman, Frank Fickling, Ed Sexauer, Paul Shadoan, David Shadoan, Lacey Shadoan, Pat McDaniel and Tashrya Harris.
“Making It Grow” airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on SCETV and on tape-delay at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays on the South Carolina Channel. It can also be viewed live online by clicking here. To watch past shows, click here.
The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 to honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials.
— Denise Attaway, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Public Service and Agriculture
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