Lee Ann Miller’s cooking segment to promote Amish Country in West Virginia
The market for Ohio’s Amish Country just burst outside the borders of Ohio.
With the stroke of a pen and a shout of “action,” Lee Ann Miller, host of Amish Country Living, will be part of a pair of television news shows in Charleston, W.Va. Miller will be featured on both Good Morning West Virginia, a Fox News affiliate on Channel 11, and Charleston’s No. 1 noon news show, ABC’s WCHS. During both shows, Miller will provide three to four minute vignettes from her kitchen, based on creating simple yet delectable treats. The initial contract is for a 12-week span, meaning that West Virginians will have plenty of time to connect with Miller.
While being in a new market out of state is exciting for Miller, who has been featured in the kitchen on news shows throughout Ohio, what really has made her excited about this project is that it is an opportunity to promote Ohio’s Amish Country to an area which creates a great deal of tourism traffic in Holmes County and its surrounding areas. The vignettes are filmed in high-definition, and will appear much like her series, in which she provides a quick recipe and plenty of light-hearted banter.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to reach out beyond Amish Country,” said Miller. “These two markets together cover about two-thirds of the greater West Virginia viewing area. This can be a powerful tool in getting Ohio’s Amish Country and everything we have to offer here out to a lot more people.”
Having already taped the 12 segments through independent producer Stephen Campanella of Belltower Productions, Miller will present quick and easy recipes in a friendly and informative way to the masses. But more importantly, she will serve as a conduit from West Virginia to Ohio, and in doing so, she wanted the sponsor of the segment to be a local Amish Country business who would also help promote an even wider spectrum of this area.
“Lee Ann has become the face for Ohio’s Amish Country, and every station she is featured on notes an increase in viewership when she is on,” said Campanella. “We are taping the segments so that every time she comes on, it feels like she is right there live.”
One of the directors in West Virginia had contacted Miller several years ago about doing a weekly segment, but because it was a longer drive, it didn’t make sense financially and wasn’t practical. After putting the idea on the back burner, Miller eventually figured out that if they could shoot the vignettes from her kitchen and not go live, they could put a package together. However, one of her stipulations was that they do so with a sponsor. The station manager began seeking possible suitors, but after talking with Campanella and Michael Mast, president of Graphic Publications’ Red Triangle Productions, they asked if they could procure a sponsor here locally.
With several in mind, Miller said negotiations eventually settled in with Walnut Creek Cheese, who opted to become the sponsor for the segment.
“We had done about 10 segments, and throughout the process, Walnut Creek Cheese had always been interested,” said Miller. The TV stations wanted a one-year commitment, but Miller asked for a 12-week trial run, on which they agreed.
Walnut Creek Cheese believed that the segments would create a perfect avenue to reach out into an untapped area, one in which they have been anticipating delving into at some point.
“From a demographic standpoint, the I-77 corridor from West Virginia to here has created a very loyal group of current customers in our area,” said Bruce King, manager of Walnut Creek Cheese, who graciously accepted the chance to step up as the sole sponsor of the segment. “Plus, this is a chance for Amish Country and for Walnut Creek Cheese to reach a lot more people there.”
King said what makes it even better is that even in West Virginia, people recognize Miller’s face, and noted that she does a tremendous job of representing Ohio’s Amish Country wherever she may show up.
“We honestly feel that West Virginia is such a vital part of our growth here in Holmes County,” said King. “It’s a great time for us to expose what we have to offer to a new area where there is a great deal of potential growth in clientele. We already have a huge clientele base from that area, people who love coming to Amish Country to visit, because it isn’t that far of a drive.”
The airing of the segments begin March 1. If all goes as Miller and everyone else involved with the program hope, it will mark the date that West Virginia begins a greater, long-lasting relationship with Ohio’s Amish Country.
“This is exciting and such an amazing opportunity for all of us,” said Miller. “It is a chance for us to promote not just one company, but our area as a whole.”
With the stroke of a pen and a shout of “action,” Lee Ann Miller, host of Amish Country Living, will be part of a pair of television news shows in Charleston, W.Va. Miller will be featured on both Good Morning West Virginia, a Fox News affiliate on Channel 11, and Charleston’s No. 1 noon news show, ABC’s WCHS. During both shows, Miller will provide three to four minute vignettes from her kitchen, based on creating simple yet delectable treats. The initial contract is for a 12-week span, meaning that West Virginians will have plenty of time to connect with Miller.
While being in a new market out of state is exciting for Miller, who has been featured in the kitchen on news shows throughout Ohio, what really has made her excited about this project is that it is an opportunity to promote Ohio’s Amish Country to an area which creates a great deal of tourism traffic in Holmes County and its surrounding areas. The vignettes are filmed in high-definition, and will appear much like her series, in which she provides a quick recipe and plenty of light-hearted banter.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to reach out beyond Amish Country,” said Miller. “These two markets together cover about two-thirds of the greater West Virginia viewing area. This can be a powerful tool in getting Ohio’s Amish Country and everything we have to offer here out to a lot more people.”
Having already taped the 12 segments through independent producer Stephen Campanella of Belltower Productions, Miller will present quick and easy recipes in a friendly and informative way to the masses. But more importantly, she will serve as a conduit from West Virginia to Ohio, and in doing so, she wanted the sponsor of the segment to be a local Amish Country business who would also help promote an even wider spectrum of this area.
“Lee Ann has become the face for Ohio’s Amish Country, and every station she is featured on notes an increase in viewership when she is on,” said Campanella. “We are taping the segments so that every time she comes on, it feels like she is right there live.”
One of the directors in West Virginia had contacted Miller several years ago about doing a weekly segment, but because it was a longer drive, it didn’t make sense financially and wasn’t practical. After putting the idea on the back burner, Miller eventually figured out that if they could shoot the vignettes from her kitchen and not go live, they could put a package together. However, one of her stipulations was that they do so with a sponsor. The station manager began seeking possible suitors, but after talking with Campanella and Michael Mast, president of Graphic Publications’ Red Triangle Productions, they asked if they could procure a sponsor here locally.
With several in mind, Miller said negotiations eventually settled in with Walnut Creek Cheese, who opted to become the sponsor for the segment.
“We had done about 10 segments, and throughout the process, Walnut Creek Cheese had always been interested,” said Miller. The TV stations wanted a one-year commitment, but Miller asked for a 12-week trial run, on which they agreed.
Walnut Creek Cheese believed that the segments would create a perfect avenue to reach out into an untapped area, one in which they have been anticipating delving into at some point.
“From a demographic standpoint, the I-77 corridor from West Virginia to here has created a very loyal group of current customers in our area,” said Bruce King, manager of Walnut Creek Cheese, who graciously accepted the chance to step up as the sole sponsor of the segment. “Plus, this is a chance for Amish Country and for Walnut Creek Cheese to reach a lot more people there.”
King said what makes it even better is that even in West Virginia, people recognize Miller’s face, and noted that she does a tremendous job of representing Ohio’s Amish Country wherever she may show up.
“We honestly feel that West Virginia is such a vital part of our growth here in Holmes County,” said King. “It’s a great time for us to expose what we have to offer to a new area where there is a great deal of potential growth in clientele. We already have a huge clientele base from that area, people who love coming to Amish Country to visit, because it isn’t that far of a drive.”
The airing of the segments begin March 1. If all goes as Miller and everyone else involved with the program hope, it will mark the date that West Virginia begins a greater, long-lasting relationship with Ohio’s Amish Country.
“This is exciting and such an amazing opportunity for all of us,” said Miller. “It is a chance for us to promote not just one company, but our area as a whole.”
Published: February 27, 2011
