(Colchester, VT - November 11, 2008) Vermont Public Radio will tell the stories of six farm families from the Northeast Kingdom in a series of special reports starting Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.

The special documentary series explores the challenges and values of the multi-generational family farm in Caledonia County, where the future of agricultural land hangs in the balance.

Among the voices listeners will hear in the reports are those of the late Cola Hudson, the longtime farmer and legislator; Ray Clark of Lyndonville; and Leland and Wilder Simpson of Lyndonville.

Reported by Charlotte Albright, the "Farm Families" stories will be broadcast during Morning Edition at 7:50 and during All Things Considered at 4:50 p.m.  Albright spent months getting to know the Northeast Kingdom farmers. She reports regularly for VPR from the Kingdom, and she is also an associate professor at Lyndon State College.

John Van Hoesen, Vice President for News at VPR, said the documentary series is part of VPR's mission to provide in-depth examination of the important issues of the region through sound-rich reporting and to help listeners connect with all parts of Vermont.

"These are moving and insightful stories about our agricultural heritage and future," Van Hoesen said.

Photographs of the farm families in the series and an audio slideshow about how the series was produced will be online at VPR.net beginning Monday.

Other recent documentary series that have aired on VPR are also online. They include the documentary "Those CCC Boys," on the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and "Vermont Reads," which tells the story of Robert Frost through a statewide community reading project.

Vermont Public Radio, Vermont's only state-wide public radio network, provides news coverage and music that is both substantive and entertaining.  Vermont Public Radio is a non-profit organization committed to maintaining the highest standards of journalism and enriching public dialogue with a distinctive voice that reflects this region. A complete list of frequencies is available at vpr.net, as well as streaming audio from VPR, VPR Classical, BBC World Service and the Vermont Legislature.