Most people who shop at the Vancouver Farmers Market don't know much about the farms behind their food. They might recognize a face at a booth, but the story of how that farm runs, what drives the person growing the produce, or what they actually think about squash? That stuff doesn't come through in a market visit.
VFM wanted to change that. They came to us with the seed of an idea: a short documentary series, funded through a USDA grant, that would introduce Clark County residents to the farmers themselves. We helped develop the concept into what became the Cultivating Clark County: A Farmer Spotlight Series.
Each episode follows one farmer or farm family at their farm and at the market. Long-form episodes run about seven minutes and give each subject room to candidly talk; short-form cuts run around a minute for social. We filmed with cameras and a drone, and let the interviews lead. The goal was never a promotional video. It was more like a portrait.
Eighteen farms are featured across the series, including Dilish Farm, Primo Beef Co., and Field & Floral. Production is still ongoing, with a public premiere planned for spring 2026.
Kayla handled filming and production alongside Phoebe, who also served as lead editor working in DaVinci Resolve. Drone footage was shot by John. Our small crew kept things nimble on farms where you're working around animals, weather, and growing seasons.
A USDA grant made the series possible, but the real investment was in the farmers' willingness to let a camera follow them around. Some of the best moments came from unexpected places like a drone shot that captured the scale of a field, or an offhand comment during an interview that turned into the emotional center of an episode.
The series gives VFM a storytelling asset they can use for years. It gives the farmers something to point to. And it gives shoppers a reason to feel something when they stop at a booth on a Saturday morning.
Cultivating Clark County premieres in person in spring 2026 and will live on YouTube!
