Rural Revival

This week we’re in Metamora, Illinois (pop. 3,732) with Paige Ehnle of No Roots Boots. Paige has combined her passion for travel, meeting people, and high quality western and fashion boots into a boot store on wheels. She now road trips with her vintage Airstream to markets, fairs, festivals, concerts, and other events - selling her boots all over America. She’s sharing all about how she built her...

We’re in Penn Valley, California this week on the podcast with fiber artist Cassidy Fisher of The Northern Craft. She’s sharing about how she turned her passion for art into a full-time profession, and about how she uses inspiration from the beautiful things around her to create her collections. Plus, she’s dishing about her incredible experience at Magnolia’s Silobration and the impact that’s had...

This week on the podcast we’re in Pawhuska, Oklahoma with Luke and Kenyon Lomax of Prairie Sky Jewelry Company. With a fairly new business and products that have quickly become high in demand, we have an incredible conversation on how they have built their business and their life, and how they transitioned from life on the road to their new home on the farm in Pawhuska. From learning their trade t...

This week on the podcast we’re in Gridley, California (pop. 6,937) with third generation rice farmer Matthew Sligar. Matthew started Rice Farming TV to help promote and educate people on the California rice industry through weekly videos on YouTube, and he’s gained quite a following. He’s talking all things rice farming and how his videos have opened up some great opportunities for him, including...

Designer Regan Doely of Doe A Deer in Stuart, Iowa (pop. 1,648) is talking about how she’s grown her business from a side hustle on Facebook into a full product line that’s now being sold by national retailers. She’s also sharing how her handmade-focused brand is inspired by her love for vintage and why she loves to work with small shops and businesses in rural America. It’s so fun to hear how Reg...

This week on the podcast we’re on the ranch in Datil, New Mexico (pop. 54) with cowboys and love stories photographer Lyndsey Garber. We talk about what it’s been like for Lyndsey to grow her rural business from a side hustle to a portfolio with national clientele. Plus she has some great things to say about the power of story, and even shares her own cowboy love story. Lyndsey has a unique perspe...

In today’s episode we’re sitting down with Mary Heffernan of Five Marys Farms. We met up at their M5 Burgerhouse in Fort Jones, California to talk about all things Five Marys. Like, how she first discovered her love for small business, why she loves the rural life, the power of Instagram, and so much more. Mary is an entrepreneur at heart and you’ll love hearing how she and her family have built F...

We recently met up with Brooke Clay of Rural Gone Urban as our travel paths were crossing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We had a great conversation about the power of story, her Rural Influencer Project and what makes someone an influencer, and why the narrative is changing for rural America. Plus we let you in on the story behind The Ruralist and how that came to be. We talk a lot about entrepreneur life,...

We’re taking you to the farm outside of New Providence, Iowa with lifestyle photographer and leathers Ali Nelson. Ali has so many cool things going on and she’s giving us a look at her life as a farm wife, creative, and small town entrepreneur. Ali has chosen her own creative path that just keeps expanding into new things! And you guys, she’s so good at all of them! Check out more on the blog. SHO...

If you’re looking for rural development strategy, then this week’s podcast is for you! We’re sitting down with Chris Deal from Jefferson, Iowa (pop. 4,345) to talk about the amazing revitalization happening here. Chris moved back to his hometown to help with the family business, Deal’s Orchard, but his role in the community has since expanded way beyond that. He has had a key role in the revitaliz...

We’re so excited to bring you this week’s interview with Joni Nash, the Executive Director of the Pawhuska, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce. Pawhuska just happens to be the home of Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman, and Joni has been right in the action as this small town has been revived literally overnight. She’s sharing about what the Pioneer Woman Mercantile has done for this community, along with...

This week on the podcast we’re sitting down with Jeremy Mahler of The Nineteen14 in Minburn, Iowa (pop. 365). The Nineteen14 is an old railroad depot that Jeremy turned into a restaurant that draws thousands of people each year — mostly through the local bike trail. As a creative and an entrepreneur, Jeremy is always involved in lots of fun projects, which you’ll get to hear more about. He’s also...

Norm and Teresa Gielda are the new owners of The Davis General - a modern day general store in the rural community of Boston, just on the outskirts of Franklin, Tennessee. This week on the podcast Norm and Teresa are sharing their story about how they chose to relocate from California to Tennessee and return to Teresa’s southern roots, and how becoming small business owners has helped them build c...

This week on the podcast we’re taking you to New Providence, Iowa, where we’re sitting down with Blake Richie, owner of BR Designs. Blake is one of several millennials who has decided to call New Providence home. He’s talking about why he chose this town of 250 people as the place to start his business, why no town is too small for revival, and how he started a county-wide young professionals grou...

Lexi Marek is an ag communicator and influencer and sixth generation Iowa farm girl. She’s talking about why she’s passionate about women in agriculture, why competing for Miss Iowa changed her life, why she’s a big advocate for branding - including how she has had to rebrand herself, and what it’s like to trust the process. You’ll also hear Lexi share how a college scholarship application idea ev...

Thanksgiving is all about gathering around the table to share a meal and celebrate the blessings and many reasons we have to be thankful in our lives. So for this special Thanksgiving edition of the Rural Revival podcast, we’re sitting down with someone who actually makes the tables we gather around - Walt Henson, Owner of Red Tower Design and Manager of Henson Ranch in Canyon, Texas (pop. 13,303)...

We’re sitting down with Randa Starnes of Tennessee River Music Company, a registered Hereford and Angus operation in Fort Payne, Alabama. Randa’s talking about life on their family’s cattle production farm, what it’s like to grow up with a famous dad, and how they unexpectedly grew their operation with a new business venture. She shares about what it means to work alongside her husband John every...

We’re sitting down with Justin Christman of Roadside Que in Fort Payne, Alabama. Justin made the move to Fort Payne from Denver, Colorado and introduced the first food truck to this rural area. His business has now grown into a new brick and mortar restaurant, right on Main Street in Fort Payne, where they just recently celebrated their grand opening. Check out more on the blog. SHOW NOTES: Fudge...

Join us on the farm in rural Madison County, Iowa for this week’s podcast interview with Matt and Naomi Hupton, founders of Pammel Park Coffee Company. Matt and Naomi are sharing about chasing a dream and why they chose Winterset, Iowa (pop. 5,190) as their place to relocate and start a family business - and how it all started with roasting coffee in their garage and a roadside stand with their ki...

This week on the podcast we’re talking with farm manager Stephanie Ballantine from Kiron, Iowa. Stephanie unexpectedly found herself widowed and faced with the decision of whether or not to continue the farming operation she and her husband had built together. She made the decision to keep the farm operation going and has never looked back, and she’s sharing about her journey and what she has lear...

Emily Vollmar Doxtad of Rooted Boutique in Holstein, Iowa talks about doing the unlikely thing of bringing a modern, contemporary boutique to her rural community. She shares about the journey of her business that started in a snowmobile trailer and how it has grown and changed over the years. Check out more on the blog. SHOW NOTES: Holstein State Theatre Okoboji Holstein, Iowa Boulders Inn & S...

We’ve got a fascinating conversation with lawyer, farmer, and mayor James Decker of Stamford, Texas (pop. 3,124) this week on the podcast. You may recognize James from his weekly Monday Musing essays posted on the Rural Revival blog, or from recently being named to the inaugural Ruralist. James is setting an example we can all learn from when it comes to the revitalization of and commitment to our...

We’re sitting down with Trey and Shandy Pearson, owners of Rowe Point Ranch in Hedley, Texas (pop. 329). Rowe Point Ranch is located on the former site of Rowe, Texas, a historic ghost town that is now being transformed into a beautiful West Texas event venue. Trey and Shandy talk about their love for this place that overflows with character, how they’ve built this new business from the ground up,...

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Shellie Hughes and her dad Bobby Earl Bertram with Old Glory Schoolhouse in Monticello, Kentucky. You’re going to love hearing about all the creative ways they’re repurposing this old schoolhouse - and their fun connection to Magnolia in Waco, Texas. Plus a few fun stories from Bobby to keep us all entertained! You’ll love hearing how family is at the he...

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Becky Wilber of Wilber Fertilizer Service in Cherokee, Oklahoma (pop. 1,630), where she helps run the family business and volunteers as an EMT and firefighter. If you’re thinking about moving back to rural America, this episode is for you. This is a really important discussion where Becky shares openly and honestly about her decision to move back to her...