The communities around Lake Okeechobee know Billy Dean quite well after his 21 years on the air at WOKC with Glades Media Group, but not everyone knows the backstory of his early years and family legacy in Southwest Florida. In this episode, we look back at his agricultural roots, share stories about growing up in rural Florida and daily sporting pursuits, and then transition into a discussion about small-town life in Florida and the important community services and the personal touch that local radio provides. It's a nostalgic look at simpler times, and a candid look behind the scenes at broadcast media that everyone is sure to enjoy.

As we enter the last month of the year and the season when our hearts are full of gratitude, join us as we run down our list of favorite, local charitable organizations that make an impact here in the South Florida region. If you're like us, you like seeing your donations support local, grassroots groups that aren't bloated and top heavy. Whether you choose to donate to these groups, get involved volunteering with them, or simply spread the word about them we feel they're deserving of the attention. Hope y'all enjoy learning about them in this episode!

Waterfowl hunting is a longstanding Southern tradition and offers a great example of the benefits that can be had from well managed public lands and especially on privately owned agricultural lands which are a haven for wildlife of all types. As the first split of the 2023 waterfowl season in Florida has concluded, it seemed like the perfect time to gather up some of our extended family for an informal chat covering all things duck hunting in Florida and Arkansas, camaraderie, and conservation. If you want to feel like you're gathered around the table or fireside with friends, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Note: This is a rebroadcast from Season 1 of the show that covers a pivotal period of time in Florida's cattle industry. Brucellosis, a devastating bacterial disease, wreaked havoc on the Florida cattle industry for many years until a federal eradication program was instituted. On this episode, we discuss the history of the program in Florida and hear firsthand accounts from Linda Crane and Evelyn Tiencken, two ladies who served as field technicians in the fight against this costly disease. Most importantly, these two ladies used their natural grit and grace to navigate what was widely considered a man's domain winning over the respect, trust, and admiration of the cattlemen in the process paving the way for a successful eradication outcome.

This week we're offering up a special cross-promotion by sharing Florida Farm Bureau Federation's podcast, Rural Recharge. Sam and I joined President Jeb Smith as guests for episode 9 and many of you may have already heard this on their platform, but we thought this was a great way for non-members of Farm Bureau to find another informative ag related podcast. Hope y'all enjoy it and be sure to subscribe to the Rural Recharge podcast wherever you stream yours.

It's been a wild October and with Halloween closing in on us this seemed like the perfect time to collaborate with our friend in Glasgow, Mr. Àdhamh Ó Broin, to cover some of our heritage and a poem featuring a ghost story. Join us this week for a special presentation of Robert Burns' classic Tam O' Shanter.

To purchase a chance (or numerous chances) to win an original Brad Phares oil painting benefiting the charitable organization, Dòrlach, as mentioned in this episode please follow the link here

Jeb Smith is a fifth generation farmer and current Florida Farm Bureau President. His family has deep roots in Hastings, Florida located in St. Johns County and a legacy of leadership locally and throughout Florida. In this episode, we discuss his family's legacy, early memories of St. Johns County, the challenges facing agriculture as our state's population swells, and his long history with Farm Bureau.

On a side note, I reversed roles and stepped in as a guest with Jeb on Farm Bureau's podcast, Rural Recharge, and we'll be sharing that segment in the future. Y'all be sure to look for it on November 3rd, and be sure to subscribe to their podcast!

Commitments relative to my art work have held me captive the last 10 days or so. That means I haven't had time for interviews or much of anything else to be honest. Given those circumstances and the fact we're shifting from summer to fall here in Florida, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to view life's various transitions through the lens of some cowboy poetry. Hope y'all enjoy the readings.

This week we journey back to Florida's Indian River region in the early 1900's thanks to a quaint paperback publication titled "Oslo" which was written by Arnold Helseth. Aside from chronicling his ancestors' amazing American journey, it provides vivid and valuable insight into our Florida heritage, especially in present day southern Indian River County and Northern St. Lucie County.

Florida's 2023 tropical weather has ramped up as we find ourselves in the peak of hurricane season so the timing couldn't be more appropriate to reflect on our state's history with September storms. As clean up efforts from Idalia continue in North Florida, we take a look back at the disastrous 1926 Hurricane which forevermore changed Florida's trajectory financially and environmentally. This one tragic weather incident devastated the Glades region and altered Florida's course more than anyone at that time could have realized so join us for firsthand accounts of those fateful hours from survivors who bore witness to the devastation.