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March 11, 2026

Doug Fine and His Award-Winning Film

American Hemp Farmer

Featured in Forbes

Regenerative-Living Documentary

Premieres on PBS and Public Television Stations

On Friday, March 14

In the last six months, filmmaker and goat rancher Doug Fine has gone from wildfire evacuee to public television distribution. And this Friday, his American Hemp Farmer documentary premieres across public television stations including PBS, the PBS app, and PBS.org, at stations across the country have already picked up the film.

 After years in development, filming in remote hemp fields, and finding success on the festival circuit, Fine’s American Hemp Farmer has been harvested for distribution by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) to air on public media television stations.

For more information on viewing on PBS, go here: pbs.org/show/american-hemp-farmer

“I am so grateful for PBS' support,” said Fine, who directs, produces and hosts the film. “It’s helping us get the regenerative living messaging in the film out to the world. Everybody wants to survive, so the film’s themes are universal.”

“This is the most enjoyable, optimistic film I’ve seen this year,” said American Hemp Farmer’s co-EP Andrew DeAngelo. “So, we’re hopeful that these early airings will lead to positive word-of-mouth among programmers at stations nationwide.”

The three-year deal with NETA includes domestic syndication to all 350 U.S. public media outlets, as well as streaming availability on PBS app and PBS.org, plus video-on-demand at DougFine.com. For local broadcasts, viewers should check their public television station schedules for specific air times.

Trailer: American Hemp Farmer

American Hemp Farmer

available to Public Media Stations on March 14

As awareness of the film builds, Fine and his production company are primed to bring the award-winning film –Best New Mexico Documentary at the Santa Fe Film Festival, Audience Choice at last October’s Silver City Film Festival, and official selection at the Las Cruces International Film Festival– to international markets. Fine is also in development to continue the message of the film with a Regenerative Living television series.

The film also teaches us all that the regenerative lifestyle—mindful, responsible living—is doable for everyone even in this busy, digital age.

In case you missed it, read on Forbes.com, HERE

LIFESTYLE > VICES

‘American Hemp Farmer’ Comes To PBS With A Regenerative Living Message

ByA.J. Herrington

Mar 10, 2026

TV viewers will get an introduction to regenerative living this month with the public television debut of American Hemp Farmer, the award‑winning documentary from author and filmmaker Doug Fine. Distributed through a three‑year deal with the National Educational Telecommunications Association, the film has already been picked up by public television stations across the country, including KVCR in Los Angeles, Connecticut Public Television, WOSU in Ohio, Vermont Public Television and stations in Wisconsin and New Mexico. 

American Hemp Farmer brings Fine’s message of regenerative living and food security to the screen at a time when climate-driven disasters are becoming increasingly familiar to American audiences. The documentary follows the filmmaker’s years-long journey to understand and teach regenerative hemp farming through hands-on learning and a cross-country exploration of how hemp can support soil health, climate resilience and farmer viability. 

Doug Fine in his hemp fields

on his Funky Butte Ranch in New Mexico.

Viewers follow Fine into hemp fields in Oregon and Vermont, onto the Rosebud Sioux’s tribal farm enterprise, and even back in time to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, where he learns traditional hand‑harvesting techniques in full Colonial-style hemp attire. The film has already earned recognition on the festival circuit, including Best New Mexico Documentary at the Santa Fe Film Festival and Audience Choice at the Silver City Film Festival. 

Climate-Driven Disasters Frame New Documentary 

The film ramps up the emotion and conflict with Fine and his family’s experience with climate‑driven wildfire. Their Funky Butte Ranch in New Mexico has faced repeated threats, including a nine‑day evacuation during the film’s post‑production. The experience reshaped the story as it was being told.

“Anytime something really touches you or someone you love, you’re viscerally more equipped to tell the story,” Fine said in an interview. “There’s no massaging it. This really happened to us. It could happen to you.”

The urgency of the situation is tempered by Fine’s optimism for regenerative living, a lifestyle built around restoring soil, conserving resources and reducing personal climate impact. He maintains that regenerative living isn’t only necessary, it can be joyful, accessible and surprisingly effective. It’s a message he believes public television audiences are ready to hear and take to heart.

“What I hope viewers who aren’t professional farmers take away is that baby steps toward regenerative living are doable no matter where you live or how busy you are,” he explains. “It’s unbelievable how much carbon even a very small garden can sequester.” 

Fine emphasizes that regenerative living does not require does not require a farm or rural acreage. Small gardens, composting and supporting local regenerative farmers are all meaningful steps that anyone can take. He says the personal payoff often surprises people. 

“You’re shocked at how well it works the first time,” says Fine. “The first garden I planted here blew me away. I didn’t know what I was doing, and the broccoli looked great.”

Filmmaker Eyes New Project 

With American Hemp Farmer finished, Fine is eager to begin his next project. The documentary has led to plans for a television series on regenerative living that expands beyond hemp into polyculture, home energy, commuting and other everyday choices.

“The series will cover other parts of regenerative living besides your food,” Fine explains. “Can you commute regeneratively? Can you make your home net‑energy neutral?” 

Fine’s goal is to demonstrate that regenerative living isn’t just a niche lifestyle, it’s a practical, scalable response to a changing climate, and one that can start with the smallest of steps. 

“If my family can take baby steps to food security,” he says in the film, “so can you and yours. One step at a time.” 

American Hemp Farmer makes its public television debut on March 14 on PBS stations nationwide and on PBS.org and the PBS app. Viewers can also find video‑on‑demand access at DougFine.com.