Rural Revival

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 some fun, new projects. He’s even working on a children’s book about rice farming that will be coming out soon!

Be sure to go check out and subscribe to the Rice Farming TV channel on YouTube.

SHOW NOTES:
Gridley, California
The World’s Largest Rice Krispies Treat Farmer
FFA
USA Rice Federation
California Rice Commission
Rice Farming TV
ricefarmingtv.com
Twitter: @ricefarmingtv
Facebook: @ricefarmingtv
Instagram: @ricefarmingtv

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 some fun, new projects. He’s even working on a children’s book about rice farming that will be coming out soon!

Be sure to go check out and subscribe to the Rice Farming TV channel on YouTube.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Gridley, California
The World’s Largest Rice Krispies Treat Farmer
FFA
USA Rice Federation
California Rice Commission
Rice Farming TV
ricefarmingtv.com
Twitter: @ricefarmingtv
Facebook: @ricefarmingtv
Instagram: @ricefarmingtv

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 Regan’s business has literally grown overnight, and her motto is one that we can all put to good use - just ask! Because you never know what that could lead to. Regan launched her new spring towels last week and has another fun towel launch coming next week, so be sure to check that out on her website.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Magnolia Silobration
Von Maur
Third & Main
Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative
Stuart, Iowa
Rescued Junk
Rescued Junk - Rural Revival Podcast Episode 4
Doe A Deer Hearts Vintage Facebook Group
JB Knacker
Central Iowa Junk Jaunt
Instagram: @doeadeerdesign
Facebook: @doeadeerdesign
www.doeadeerdesign.com

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 perspective on rural business - that sometimes serving the people outside our community allows us the opportunity to stay in our community. And we are so excited to hear about Lyndsey’s plans to teach more, which she has started doing on some of her recent blog posts. There are links to that in the show notes so be sure to go check it out! Huge thanks to Lyndsey for being on the podcast and for opening her home up to us as we were passing through!

SHOW NOTES:
Datil, New Mexico
“Harry the Cowdog” by David. R. Stoecklein
lyndseygarber.com
Instagram: @lyndseygarber
Facebook: @lyndseygarberphotography

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 perspective on rural business - that sometimes serving the people outside our community allows us the opportunity to stay in our community. And we are so excited to hear about Lyndsey’s plans to teach more, which she has started doing on some of her recent blog posts. There are links to that in the show notes so be sure to go check it out! Huge thanks to Lyndsey for being on the podcast and for opening her home up to us as we were passing through!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Datil, New Mexico
“Harry the Cowdog” by David. R. Stoecklein
lyndseygarber.com
Instagram: @lyndseygarber
Facebook: @lyndseygarberphotography

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 Five Marys from the ground up.

Mary’s can-do approach to marketing and branding and tackling every part of their business is so impressive. And that’s why we love so much that she is sharing what she’s learned through her new Small Business Workshop. Enrollment for her eCourse actually starts next week! So be sure to go check out the Five Marys website for more information on that. And while you’re there, you can also check out the ways that you can experience Fort Jones and the ranch for yourself.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Donald Doverspike, Burns, Oregon
eBook: “They Can Do It. What I Learned About Raising Kids by Moving to the Country."
Fort Jones, California
Siskiyou County
M5 Burgerhouse
Five Marys Guesthouse on Airbnb
You Can Do It - Small Business from Scratch
Camp Five Marys Retreats
Carhartt at Five Marys
The Five Marys Story: By Verizon
www.fivemarysfarms.com
www.shopfivemarys.com
Instagram: @fivemarysfarms
Facebook: @fivemarys

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, and how Brooke’s ad agency and travel and writing experience have all blended together into Rural Gone Urban, where she’s telling some pretty great—and important—stories. Definitely go check out her website and blog and you’ll see how she’s helping shine a light on great things happening in rural America.

And don’t forget to nominate your favorite rural influencer for The Ruralist!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Johnson County, Indiana
Perkins, Oklahoma
Chickasaw Country
North Carolina Tourism
Project 543
The Ruralist
Gore, Oklahoma
Rural Influencer Project
Smashing Steaks video
Rural Gone Urban
Instagram: @ruralgoneurban
Facebook: @ruralgoneurban
Twitter: @ruralgoneurban

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.

SHOW NOTES:
Tom Christopher, Artist
Ali Nelson Photography
Dos Rios Leather Co.
Hardin County Young Professionals
Rachael Ostrem, Miss Rodeo Iowa
Instagram: @alinelsonphoto
Instagram: @dosriosleather
Facebook: @ANelsonPhotoDesign
Facebook: @ANleatherdesign

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 revitalization of Jefferson and some exciting projects happening here. While there’s no script out there for how to do rural development, Chris says there are certain pieces that you need to get right. He shares a lot about the strategies that have worked to revitalize Jefferson - strategies that can benefit your rural community as well.

SHOW NOTES:
Jefferson, Iowa
Deal’s Orchard
Deal’s Orchard Hard Cider
Pella, Iowa
Career Academy - Pella Community Schools
Jefferson Matters: Main Street
Peg Raney, Main Street Program Director
Community Development Block Grant
Greene County, Iowa
Paton, Iowa
Scranton, Iowa
HyVee
The Forge
Pillar Technology
Linc Kroeger
Iowa Central Community College
Zach Mannheimer, Creative Placemaking
Vision 20/20 Project
Three Block Project
Silicon Valley in Jefferson
Deal’s Orchard Facebook
Deal’s Orchard Instagram
Jefferson Main Street Facebook
Jefferson Main Street Instagram
Greene County Community School District Facebook

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 revitalization of Jefferson and some exciting projects happening here. While there’s no script out there for how to do rural development, Chris says there are certain pieces that you need to get right. He shares a lot about the strategies that have worked to revitalize Jefferson - strategies that can benefit your rural community as well.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Jefferson, Iowa
Deal’s Orchard
Deal’s Orchard Hard Cider
Pella, Iowa
Career Academy - Pella Community Schools
Jefferson Matters: Main Street
Peg Raney, Main Street Program Director
Community Development Block Grant
Greene County, Iowa
Paton, Iowa
Scranton, Iowa
HyVee
The Forge
Pillar Technology
Linc Kroeger
Iowa Central Community College
Zach Mannheimer, Creative Placemaking
Vision 20/20 Project
Three Block Project
Silicon Valley in Jefferson
Deal’s Orchard Facebook
Deal’s Orchard Instagram
Jefferson Main Street Facebook
Jefferson Main Street Instagram
Greene County Community School District Facebook