“Small Town Big Deal” follows hosts Rodney Miller and Jann Carl across the country as they scour rural America for the best stories of faith, hope, patriotism, and good common sense that our small towns and farming communities have to offer.
Born and raised on a farm in Benton, Illinois, Rodney Miller quickly learned that agriculture was a way of life. Before leaving to start “Small Town Big Deal,” Rodney was a leader in the agricultural machinery industry, acting as CEO of Montana Tractors and McCormick International. Now, you can find Rodney in Ocilla, Georgia, with his wife, Kendra; their three children; and their granddaughter. When he’s not on the road uncovering the best of America’s small towns, he’s collecting antique tractors and equipment, operating a large corn maze in the Atlanta area, and maintaining his 1,000-acre row crop operation back in Benton.
Miller and Carl call the show their “love letter to America” filling them with stories that fill them with pride, give them hope, make them laugh and remind them that national treasures are often found where we least expect them. It’s a way to highlight the true character of America that is grounded in the values and the common sense thinking of small town folks.
“We are on a mission to celebrate the great stories of America,” says Miller, “shining the spotlight on some amazing individuals who have really made a difference in their communities, their regions and even globally.”
Real people in the stories have passion for what they do: preserving local jobs by saving a family business from going under, or creating a nurturing equine therapy program for challenged kids and wounded veterans, or investing years in researching a way to grow chickens that can withstand disease and become a viable food source in developing nations.
“‘Small Town Big Deal’ showcases the heritage of our nation, the power of its dreamers, and pays tribute to the unsung heroes,” Carl says. “The stories remind us that national treasures are often found where we least expect them.”
Viewers get a look behind the scenes as Miller and Carl interview the people who have found themselves in situations requiring the use of emerging technologies, fresh thinking, and new ways to solve problems.
For Miller and Carl, “Small Town Big Deal” is a way to highlight the true character of America that is grounded in the values and the common sense thinking of small town folks.
Co-Hosts
Rodney Miller is a long-time leader in the agricultural machinery industry. A native of Benton, Ill., Miller has served as the CEO of McCormick International, USA in Duluth, Ga. He previously was the CEO of Montana Tractors, a nationwide distributor of compact tractors and equipment, located in Springdale, Ark. He still maintains an active farming operation in Illinois and Georgia and is an avid collector of antique tractors.
Jann Carl is a former correspondent and weekend anchor for Entertainment Tonight and has a background as a writer-producer. An Emmy Award-winning news reporter in Los Angeles, Carl also has a mid-western farm background. Her grandparents were dairy farmers and her father was a sales and marketing executive with John Deere for 30 years.
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