10/11/11 kkh

HAYS, Kan. -- From Canada to the southernmost tip of Texas, a Fort Hays State University freshman and his harvest crew were followed and documented by a History Channel film crew.

Cody Russell, Solomon freshman, and the Sammons crew will bring combines to the living rooms of millions on the History Channel's new series, "Harvest: Two Steps Back," when the show premieres at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.

The series will feature three custom cutting crews. Russell spent the summer of 2011 on Sammons Adventures crew out of Cutbank, Mont.

Russell was recruited to join the Sammons crew by the owner, Roger Sammons. After completing an online application, he was interviewed via phone and Skype.

"Roger called us and interviewed us, and the TV crew also did an interview over Skype to get our personalities," Russell said. "The TV people gave Roger an outlook of who we were and if we were good enough personalities to be on the show -- if we were TV-friendly."

Russell, who has driven a combine since he was about 10 years old and operated one of seven combines on the Sammons crew, said adding cameras to a cutting crew adds another challenge to harvest.

"It was difficult to harvest with the camera crews around," said Russell, "because you didn't want to mess up or do anything stupid in front of the camera. You had to be careful about what you said and did."

"You didn't want to curse or do anything bad, but then again, they told us that was okay because that makes good TV."

Russell said one of the most difficult parts of having the History Channel around was the on-camera interviews.

"Although they wanted to show viewers what we are like, it was hard when they interviewed me because they would give me guidelines to follow as to what to say and what to do."

Still, America will be introduced to a variety of personalities.

"My favorite part of working on the custom cutting crew was getting to know guys from all over America," Russell said. "It was nice to meet people and learn about their life and their harvesting. We were like brothers. Being cooped up in a trailer for a whole summer together, you get to know a lot of interesting things about them."

He said he anticipates the premiere, but it was hard to tell if he was looking forward to it or dreading it.

"My boss said you'll never know what they selected to show. It's going to be awkward watching myself on TV because I don't know how they are going to make me look, but hopefully it all goes well. Everybody in my family is looking forward to it."

Russell has already been asked to return to the crew next summer and has accepted the offer.