"From its first field report in a Central Otago apricot orchard in 1966, and broadcast as a 14-minute news show primarily for farmers, Country Calendar is now New Zealand's longest-running television series, with more than half a million people tuning in every week. This year saw Country Calendar turn 50, and this book celebrates this milestone by revisiting 15 families who have appeared on the show during the last decade - and, in some cases, whose properties have featured two or three times during the last 50 years. The featured stories all reflect the distinct flavour and character that has made Country Calendar so beloved by both its rural and urban audience. It is a diverse collection that reflects the varied and changing face of rural New Zealand, and the hard-working, passionate people who love what they do, love their properties and love sharing their stories."--Jacket.