The landscape of Missouri is characterized by lush fields, rolling hills, meandering rivers, sun-dappled forests, pristine springs and majestic vistas. Our vineyards are known the world over and our local food culture is robust. The Nine Network explores the beauty and the bounty of the state in an hour-long special, Heartland, airing Saturday (Dec. 14) - at 4:30 p.m.  and Sunday (Dec. 15) at 5:30 p.m.See the video here.Shot during the height of Missouri’s fall colors, Heartland, produced by Patrick Murphy, captures beautiful landscapes as they make the annual transition from summer to autumn. Included in the tour are the Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County, the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, scenes along the 240-mile Katy Trail, picturesque Hermann in Gasconade County, and views from historic Route 94 wine country.Heartland also examines conservation efforts aimed at protecting and maintaining the state’s farms, forests and waterways. Among those interviewed are Chuck Dressel, owner of Mount Pleasant Estates winery in Augusta; Patricia Hagen, vice president/executive director of Audubon Missouri; Peter Wyse Jackson, president of the Missouri Botanical Garden; Peter Raven, president emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden; artist Billyo O’Donnell; James Trager, restoration biologist at Shaw Nature Reserve-Missouri Botanical Garden, and Hubie Kluesner, Warren County commissioner.Heartland was inspired by the book Missouri River Country by Dan Burkhardt, founder of the Katy Land Trust and co-founder of the Magnificent Missouri conservation fundraising organization.TV Show Focuses on Importance of Conserving Missouri River Valley Landscapes