OUTdrive

Did you know that the produce in grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate? Furthermore, the USDA estimates that on average, a farmer only earns 17.4 cents for every dollar spent on a food item. Compare these numbers to your local farmers' market, where the produce is grown within a 50-mile radius and the farmer or producer earns an average of 85 cents on every dollar. Farmers' markets around the U.S. offer consumers an opportunity to support local growers and businesses, eat healthier, and connect with community members, all in one place.

The Sedalia Area Farmers' Market was established in 2009 by co-founders Bev Rollings and Brenda Raetz. Brenda oversees the day-to-day operations as the market manager and Bev currently serves as the treasurer. Matt Tennill and his wife, Kim, own Triple H Family Farms in Marshall, Missouri, specializing in fresh produce including greens, heirloom tomatoes, root vegetables, and honey. Matt was recently named president of the Sedalia Area Farmers' Market board of directors.

If you need more incentive on why you should shop at your local farmers' market, tune into this special panel episode to learn more.

What you'll learn:

• A simplified overview of how farmers' markets work and the benefits of buying produce from local markets
• The criteria for becoming a vendor at the Sedalia Area Farmer's Market and how to get the process started
• How the Sedalia Area Farmers' Market helps market their vendors and share the story of local farmers, growers and producers
• The logistics behind the set up of the market from week to week and the family-oriented, kid-friendly activities available on a monthly basis
• The individual and community health benefits of shopping at farmers' markets
• How the Missouri Grown program and Community Supported Agriculture program support vendors across the state
• Details about the 2022 season of the Sedalia Farmers' Market and the resources consumers can use to connect with the market online

Access to quality health care is at the core of a healthy community. Rural area hospitals play a vital role in attracting new families and businesses to small and mid-size cities. For this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sat down with Dr. Stuart Braverman to discuss the ins and outs, challenges, and rewards of being a health care provider in rural America.

Stu is a general surgeon in the private practice and is the Chief of Staff at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Missouri. He has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. Stu received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri before going on to Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Tufts consistently ranks among the world's best medical research institutions for clinical medicine year after year. Stu then completed his residency for general surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before making his way back to Sedalia.

Tune into this episode to learn how the Bothwell Regional Health Center has grown and how medicine has advanced exponentially since Stu started practicing medicine.

What you'll learn:

• What led Stu towards medicine and what influenced him to pursue general surgery over orthopedics or family medicine
• Why Stu decided to return to Sedalia after completing his education and residency programs out East
• Stu's role as Chief of Staff at Bothwell Regional Health Center
• Some of the challenges rural health care systems like Bothwell face
• Why a young physician should consider settling in a rural community like Sedalia and the advantages that come with it, professionally and personally
• What Stu's typical week and surgery schedule look like
• Some of the things Stu is seeing from a technology standpoint that are exciting in the medical world
• The emphasis Stu puts on the personal aspect of healthcare and taking pride in your own practices as a business

The Katy Trail State Park is the longest developed rail-trail in the country, spanning 240 miles between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. Whether you are a bicyclist, walker, equestrian, nature lover or history buff, the trail offers opportunities for recreation, a place to enjoy nature and an avenue to discover the past.

After spending nearly her whole adult life around the Katy Trail, Kim Henderson saw an opportunity to bring more tourism to the small trail town of Windsor by building a cabin rental business.

Kim is the owner and operator of Kim's Cabins. Located right on the Katy Trail, her business offers a tranquil escape with several recreational options for visitors. Before owning her own business, Kim spent several years at First Community Bank, now Equity Bank. She also served as the City Administrator of the City of Windsor until 2018 when she took her rental business full time. Kim gets to experience farm life on a daily basis and has gained quite the social media following by sharing photos of the nature and wildlife on her land.

Katy Trail State Park attracts people of all ages and interests. Tune in to hear how Kim's Cabins put Windsor on the map as a must-stay destination for those making the state-wide trek on the trail or those just looking for a weekend getaway.

What you'll learn:

• Kim's background growing up in St. Charles, Missouri, moving to Wyoming to work in hospitality and then eventually settling in Windsor, Missouri
• The inspiration behind Kim's Cabins and the need it fills for those traveling through Missouri, especially by trail
• How people can get ahold of Kim, book her cabin and follow her on social media
• What it takes to run a rental business and how important it is for small business owners to make personal connections
• The ways people find and review Kim's business online through Google, community sites and social media
• Why more and more people are leaving cities for smaller communities and what trail towns have to offer those who are wanting to "getaway"
• What rural America means to Kim and the impact of Midwest hospitality she sees amongst trail people

Some of us chose our own paths in life. For others, the path is chosen for us. And if you're Rob Hughes, the senior minister at Broadway Church in Sedalia, Missouri, the path will call you to ministry after years of working in a completely unrelated career field. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with Rob to talk about his unorthodox journey from the glitz of the West Coast film industry to a pulpit in the Midwest.

Rob has been the lead pastor and head of staff for nine years, following a nine-year stint serving in ministry in the Denver, Colorado area. Prior to his calling to ministry, Rob spent 15 years working on a variety of projects as a producer, editor, and director for National Geographic, Disney, Rocky Mountain PBS, and others. In addition to church ministry, Rob also serves as a chaplain for the Sedalia Police Department, a Commissioner for the Synod of Mid-Missouri, and is a member of the Pettis County Ministerial Association. Rob earned his Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary and studied film and communications at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

The local church has always been a pillar of small-town communities. Tune in to hear about the rewards, the challenges, and the revelations that come with leading a church staff and congregation in today's world.

What you'll learn:

• Rob's background growing up in Southern California and how it shaped his original career path into the film industry
• The use of video in church services and the progression of video clips that suit the diminishing attention span of today's audiences
• Rob's unorthodox journey into ministry and what he loves about his job as a pastor - collaborating with members and staff
• The impact of the pandemic on church attendance and active membership
• The origin story of One Track Train and future plans for the band
• Using new technology to communicate with the congregation and to attract new potential members to the church
• Closing thoughts on making the case for the local church and for God's existence in today's world

Community is defined as "a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals." A strong sense of community is part of what makes rural America a great place to live, work and raise a family. In this episode of OUTdrive, local Mexican restaurant owner Cesar Marin shares the stories of the Marin and Perez families, who saw moving to Missouri and joining a small-town community as an opportunity to build a better life.

Cesar is the owner of El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant in Sedalia, Missouri. Cesar's mother and father-in-law, Maria and H.A. Perez, founded El Tapatio in 1995 and ran the business for 25 years. In 2021, they retired and passed the torch to their daughter, Minerva, and Cesar. In addition to his role at El Tap, he continues to work as a car salesman at Bryant Motors, located across the street from the restaurant. After spending most of his school-age years in California, Cesar's family moved to Sedalia in the late '90s. Cesar graduated from Smith-Cotton High School and went on to study at State Fair Community College.

El Tapatio is a staple in the community thanks to the legacy the Perez family established over 25 years ago. Tune in to this episode to see how the pursuit of the American Dream and hard work cultivated a modern-day success story right here in Sedalia.

What you'll learn:

• Cesar's background growing up in California and his family's move to Missouri in the late '90s
• The origin story of how Cesar's father-in-law, H.A. Perez, founded El Tapatio over 30 years ago
• Cesar's career journey at El Tapatio, working his way from a dishwasher to a manager to now owner
• How Cesar balances both ownership of El Tapatio and selling cars at Bryant Motors
• The importance of customer service and the power of online reviews
• Some of the ways El Tapatio gives back to the community, through fundraisers and sponsoring local sports teams, school districts, and law enforcement
• Why Cesar loves the Sedalia community and all aspects of the rural lifestyle - except for the winter weather
• Cesar's life-long fandom of the L.A. Dodgers

Alternative energy solutions are a major point of discussion these days. One solution that is often overlooked is propane. Propane is being used across all industries to meet the need for a resilient, cleaner, greener energy solution, and the need for remote power where it isn't readily available. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff is joined by Joe Calhoun, the Director of Business Development for the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), to discuss all the ways propane is powering rural America and beyond.

Joe is the Director of Business Development for the Propane Education and Research Council. He leads PERC initiatives to grow propane demand by working directly with partners across multiple industries. Joe is responsible for business development, product development, and market development activities, which include outreach, communications, education, research, product development, technical integrations, and product commercialization.

Before assuming his position at PERC, Calhoun worked for RegO Products as business development manager for the propane and industrial gas markets. He also served as the national business development manager for Robinson Pipe and Vessel in De Pere, Wisconsin, the business development manager at TransTech Energy in North Carolina, as a regional sales manager for Ray Murray, director of corporate business development with Paraco Gas, and customer service and logistics manager at American Welding and Tank.

Propane fuels multiple industries, whether it's grain drying, irrigation systems, transportation or combined heat and power. Tune in to hear about the innovation of propane and how it could benefit your business.

What you'll learn:

• Joe's journey to the propane industry and the role of business development throughout his career
• The goals and objectives of PERC and the marketing tools PERC uses to share the propane story
• The innovation of propane and its primary uses in agriculture, home building, and in response to natural disasters and severe weather across the country
• Details on the NC-TEC facility and other new programs PERC is using to train people in the industry
• What Joe believes it takes to be successful in business development
• Joe's work from home experience and advice to those who are trying to manage it
• The impact of the pandemic on propane equipment and supply

Entrepreneurship has evolved over the years, but one thing is for certain, the American Dream is still alive and well for those who are willing to work for it. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with business owner Russell Childers to learn more about what it takes to be successful in real estate development.

Russell is the president of RAC-JAC Properties Incorporated, which owns and manages numerous types of business and real estate ventures. He is the definition of self-made and has been doing business in Sedalia and the surrounding area for the last 44 years. A lifelong Sedalia resident, Russell bought his first home when he was just 18 years old. He graduated from Otterville High School and attended SFCC Vocational Technology classes as an upperclassman. Russell is heavily involved in the Sedalia area, serving on community boards and supporting local schools.

Tune into this episode of OUTdrive to hear from Russell about current projects he is working on, how he identifies potential properties, and lessons learned from over 40 years of entrepreneurship.

What you'll learn:

• Russell's background growing up in the Sedalia and Otterville area and buying his first house
• Russell's main buying focus right now in Florida and around the Lake of the Ozarks
• What Russell looks for when buying property and what excites him when it comes to a new project or opportunity
• Where Russell's vision for buying property came from and what advice he would give to his younger self
• The struggle business owners face when they retire or transition out of a business and hand it off to someone else to take over
• Why trust and relationships are critical to success in his business, especially when it comes to advertising
• How Russell got involved with schools in the community and where that passion comes from

Sports columnist Ben Frederickson returns to OUTdrive to chat about all things sports and writing. Ben shares his hot takes on Mizzou Basketball, the possible outcomes of the MLB lockout, and the Blue's chances at another playoff run. Cliff and Ben also dive a little deeper into storytelling, such as creating content for several multimedia platforms, using personas to reach consumers, and developing an ongoing dialog with your audience.

Ben, better known as the columnist behind "BenFred," is a sportswriter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. He graduated from Mizzou's school of journalism and had reporting stints at news outlets across the country, including Wyoming and Tennessee before landing back in the Show Me State in 2015. Originally from Sedalia, Missouri, Ben got his start in journalism writing an "inside the huddle" column for the Sedalia Democrat on Sunday after Smith Cotton football games.

Tune in to this episode of OUTdrive for an update on your favorite teams and perspective from a writing professional when it comes to messaging that resonates with your audience.

What you'll learn:

• Details behind the multimedia outlets Ben creates content for, including newspaper articles, online columns, radio shows, podcasts, videos, and how they are organized.
• The ongoing dialog Ben has with his readers and how good discussion can change opinions
• Ben's hot takes on Mizzou basketball: the coaching staff and players
• An update on the MLB lockout situation and a look at spring training 2022
• The challenges of keeping tabs on several sports and trying to be in two places at once
• What Ben's writing schedule looks like and how it's split between online content and newspaper columns
• How to write for certain audiences and use personas in storytelling
• An overview of Ben's background and journey from Sedalia to the St. Louis Post Dispatch

The Lake of the Ozarks flew under the radar for many years, and was considered a hidden gem for those that knew about it. That was until May 2020, when viral videos during the pandemic made headlines and popularity of the Netflix series Ozark brought attention from around the world to the mid-Missouri oasis. The media coverage drove hundreds of thousands of clicks to the Lake of the Ozarks website and had a huge impact on marketing. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sat down with Eric Homan, the web administrator for the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau, to talk about marketing strategy and tactics along with new technologies emerging in the tourism industry.

Eric has served as the web administrator at the Convention and Visitors Bureau for 18 years. In his role, Eric manages the website and leads the digital marketing efforts for the lake. He works closely with the board of directors and Missouri Department of Tourism to implement new messaging and campaigns across digital platforms. Eric earned his degree in computer programming and web development from State Fair Community College. A Smithton, Missouri native, Eric worked for his family's livestock and pet food business for several years where he was tasked with running the accounting software along with delivering feed.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about what goes into marketing a popular vacation spot. From resorts and waterfront restaurants to hiking and fishing, the Lake of the Ozarks has it all, and more.

What you'll learn:

• Eric's role as the web administrator for the Lake of the Ozarks CVB and his non-traditional path to computer programming
• The positive and negative feedback and attention that came out of the pandemic for the Lake of the Ozarks
• What new strategies and messaging the CVB has used in recent years to connect people to their vacation guides, which is their primary marketing tool
• How the popularity of the Netflix series Ozark has impacted the Lake of the Ozarks marketing and tourism
• Details behind the new trends and uses of technology, such as virtual reality, in the tourism industry and how the CVB goes about taking on a new marketing platform
• How the Missouri Department of Tourism supports and helps fund marketing for the Lake of the Ozarks
• What Eric enjoys about his job and his advice for someone looking to go into the computer programming field

It's often said "it takes a village" to raise a child, and Cliff's guest in this episode of OUTdrive believes that to be true. Gary Beckman is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of West Central Missouri. He outlines the importance of programs and activities available to school age children through the Boys and Girls Club, especially in rural American communities.

Gary has nearly 30 years of experience working with Boys and Girls Club and community members of rural areas across the Midwest. Gary entered the position of Executive Director in 2017 after spending the first 20 years of his career with the Boys and Girls Club in Illinois. He had previously spent 16 years as the Executive Director of a club branch in Pontiac, Ill. and had early career experience working with the YMCA in Chicago. Originally from La Plata, Missouri, Gary earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Tune in as Gary shares the characteristics of support, guidance and grit the Boys and Girls Club helps instill in the youth of our community, and communities around the world.

What you'll learn:

• Gary's journey from the small town of La Plata, Missouri to working in corporate fitness in Chicago and how it ultimately led him to working for the Boys and Girls Club for the last 30 years in rural American areas
• What Gary's typical day looks like as the executive director
• The challenges facing an organization like Boys and Girls club in rural America
• The community partnerships the club has developed over the years and how important investors are to the organization
• Details on the Boys and Girls Club annual Night of Heart and Hope happening on February 19th, 2022
• The characteristics of what rural America means to Gary
• Using storytelling in marketing and how sharing "your story" can have a big impact for non-profit organizations like the club
• The story of Gary's mother, a Hall of Fame basketball player and the importance of remembering our history