Rural Revival

Today on the Rural Revival podcast we’re with JB Royer of Royer’s Round Top Cafe in Round Top, Texas (pop. 90). We met up with JB just as Texas Antiques Week was starting, and we did this interview as they were getting the restaurant ready for the evening dinner guests, so hopefully you feel like you’re sitting right there in the cafe with us.

We’re talking about the great family history behind the cafe, the importance of relationships, how they’ve made it possible to ship their pies nationwide, plus Texas Antiques Week and more. This is a great family serving up great food and great hospitality, and we can’t wait for you to hear their story.

You’ll love how the Royers are always innovating and trying new things, and also love their heart for serving people. It really does shine through. And can we just say, their food is absolutely amazing — so amazing that we hired them to come cook for a ranch dinner we did out at the Coy T. Ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

And since we did this interview, the Royers have come out with a new cookbook. It’s called Cooking with JB & Jamie: Royers Round Top Cafe Cookbook. We cannot recommend this enough! So be sure to go grab yourself a copy and give them a follow, and all those links you need are in the show notes. 

Today on the Rural Revival podcast we’re with JB Royer of Royer’s Round Top Cafe in Round Top, Texas (pop. 90). We met up with JB just as Texas Antiques Week was starting, and we did this interview as they were getting the restaurant ready for the evening dinner guests, so hopefully you feel like you’re sitting right there in the cafe with us.

We’re talking about the great family history behind the cafe, the importance of relationships, how they’ve made it possible to ship their pies nationwide, plus Texas Antiques Week and more. This is a great family serving up great food and great hospitality, and we can’t wait for you to hear their story.

You’ll love how the Royers are always innovating and trying new things, and also love their heart for serving people. It really does shine through. And can we just say, their food is absolutely amazing — so amazing that we hired them to come cook for a ranch dinner we did out at the Coy T. Ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

And since we did this interview, the Royers have come out with a new cookbook. It’s called Cooking with JB & Jamie: Royers Round Top Cafe Cookbook. We cannot recommend this enough! So be sure to go grab yourself a copy and give them a follow, and all those links you need are in the show notes. 

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Goldbelly
Texas Antiques Week
Brenham, Texas
Kevin Fowler
Marcus Lutrell
Royers Round Top Cafe
Royers Cookbook
Instagram: @mayorofroyers

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Shanna Lindberg of Soul Sister Ceramics in Courtland, Kansas (pop. 294). Shanna is telling the story of how she and her business partner, knowing nothing about how to make pottery, bought a kiln and became self taught pottery makers using Kansas clay from the Flint Hills. They started making jewelry, hosting pottery parties, and all kinds of fun things.

She shares about her shop’s cute location in a historic corner gas station and her focus on Kansas-made and small business products. Plus, we talk about the ripple effect of this business on other businesses in the town and the incredible revival happening here, which we’ll be sharing on the blog all week long.

You’ll love how Shanna taught herself to make pottery and started a business from it, and all that it’s become since those early days. And it’s so great what Shanna and her family and so many others are doing in Courtland. For a town of just under 300 people, there is so much going on here and we can’t wait to share the stories of these other businesses too throughout the upcoming week. Be sure to check out the blog and follow along on social media this week!

Show notes:
Courtland, Kansas
Scandia, Kansas
Brackers Good Earth Clay
Courtland Pride Club
From the Land of Kansas
Heartland Lodge
Heartland Gamebirds
Irrigation Ales
Pivotal Wellness Center
Facebook: /soulsisterceramics
Instagram: /soulsisterceramics
soulsisterceramics.com

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Shanna Lindberg of Soul Sister Ceramics in Courtland, Kansas (pop. 294). Shanna is telling the story of how she and her business partner, knowing nothing about how to make pottery, bought a kiln and became self taught pottery makers using Kansas clay from the Flint Hills. They started making jewelry, hosting pottery parties, and all kinds of fun things.

She shares about her shop’s cute location in a historic corner gas station and her focus on Kansas-made and small business products. Plus, we talk about the ripple effect of this business on other businesses in the town and the incredible revival happening here, which we’ll be sharing on the blog all week long.

You’ll love how Shanna taught herself to make pottery and started a business from it, and all that it’s become since those early days. And it’s so great what Shanna and her family and so many others are doing in Courtland. For a town of just under 300 people, there is so much going on here and we can’t wait to share the stories of these other businesses too throughout the upcoming week. Be sure to check out the blog and follow along on social media this week!

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Courtland, Kansas
Scandia, Kansas
Brackers Good Earth Clay
Courtland Pride Club
From the Land of Kansas
Heartland Lodge
Heartland Gamebirds
Irrigation Ales
Pivotal Wellness Center
Facebook: /soulsisterceramics
Instagram: /soulsisterceramics
soulsisterceramics.com

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Matt and Brittany Tedder of Walsh, Colorado (pop. 546). Matt and Brittany are entrepreneurs at heart, with their hand in ag technologies, seed sales, a trucking business, a construction and design business, and a catering business where they even have their own barbecue sauce!

They’re talking about how they work together as a team and diversify themselves through different seasons, how they’re raising up their kids as entrepreneurs and teaching them to love to dream, and what it’s like to live in a very remote area and make it all work.

And do you remember Lettie McKinney from a few episodes back? Well, Matt is actually Lettie’s brother! And you’ll get to hear more about that in this interview.

Matt and Brittany are an amazing couple who bring so much to their community, and yet they are so humble about it. They don’t see it as something they have to do; it’s simply engrained in their life, and there’s something really special about that. 

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Walsh, Colorado
Manter, Kansas
Stonington, Colorado
Dave Ramsey
Trimble
Monosem
Channel Seed
Rural Roots LLC
Facebook: /tedderag
Website: tedder-ag.tech
Facebook: Stonington Community Center

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Kim Ellenz of Old School Seals in Tipton, Kansas (pop. 193). Old School Seals custom makes wax seals and stamps for people around the world — all from a small town — and today Kim is bringing us inside to tell us all about it. She shares about the start of the company and how she got involved, moving the business to Tipton, the intricacies of running an online business, and much more. From working with wedding designers in New York and the South to designing seals for some well-known national brands, this is quite the story.

You’ll love learning about this unique business and how they are thriving in their small town of Tipton. Typically we talk to people who are a few years into their entrepreneurial journey, so it’s really great to have the opportunity to hear from a more seasoned small business owner, and there was so much we can learn from Kim!

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Ellsworth, Kansas
Lorraine, Kansas
Tipton, Kansas
Given Grace Floral Shop
Norton, Kansas
Miltech Machine
Tanqueray Gin
Instagram: @oldschoolseals
Facebook: /oldschoolseals
oldschoolseals.com

On today’s episode we’re with Amanda Lebeck, Chairman of the Walnut Community Center in Walnut, Iowa (pop. 747). Amanda shares how she and members of her community moved quickly to save their recently vacated school building and give it a new purpose and use, which now includes a fitness center, conference rooms, community kitchen, event spaces, two gyms, and even a bar. She talks about their foundation’s unique partnership with the city that makes this all work, as well as some of their projects and fundraisers. If you have a vacant school building or something similar in your town, this podcast is going to spark some ideas for you!

We can’t say enough good things about Amanda and the members of this foundation and what they’ve done with the Walnut Community Center. And what’s so impressive is that they’ve done all of this in under four years! Incredible work, guys! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Walnut, Iowa
Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Task Force
AHSTW Community School District
Cultivate by Rural Revival
facebook.com/walnutcommunitycenter
walnutcommunitycenter.org
facebook.com/walnutAMVETS
walnutantiqueshow.com

This week we’re with Rylie Sproul, hair stylist at The Loft in Fairview, Oklahoma (pop. 2,600). While Rylie always knew she wanted to be a hair stylist, she didn’t always know she would end up living in her hometown, yet that’s exactly where she’s at and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

We talk about celebrating 11 years of business in a building that has an incredible history for her family, the relationships she’s built and cultivated with her clients, and the important role that plays in the life of her small town and its people. She also shares about her family’s history of entrepreneurship, plus life on the family farm that was settled in the Oklahoma Land Run.

You’ll love all that Rylie has done with her business and her passion and commitment to her town of Fairview, and how she and her husband are intentional about honoring those that came before them and passing those values on to their kids.

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
Fairview, Oklahoma
Fairview Republican
Cherokee Messenger
Cherokee, Oklahoma
Nash, Oklahoma
Instagram: @ryliesproul

On this episode of the podcast we’re with Nicky Tiffany of The Territory Ballroom in Council Grove, Kansas (pop. 2,140), where she’s sharing about her hopes and dreams for this business and building when the doors open — as an event space, co-working space, Airbnb, and more. Plus, the big transition that’s happened in downtown Council Grove in a short amount of time and how this has become a great destination, and why she wants to give people the opportunity to move back home and how the ballroom is going to play a role in that.

We recorded this a few months back when they were still in the middle of construction, and are now bringing this to you right before the ballroom’s official grand opening, which we’re really excited for you to learn more about.

You’ll love how Nicky is creating an experience steeped in rich history in the heart of the Flint Hills, and her grand opening derby party and dance sounds amazing! Be sure to go check out the show notes and follow along as this all unfolds over the next few weeks! And all week long we will be featuring stories of rural revival happening in Council Grove, Kansas, so be sure to head over to the blog or check out the show notes for more.

Check out more on the blog.

Show notes:
K-State Equestrian Team
Charles Goodnight
Santa Fe Trail
K Construction
Council Grove, Kansas
Flint Hills
Dodge City, Kansas
Riverbank Brewing
Facebook: /theterritoryballroom
Instagram: @theterritoryballroom
theterritoryballroom.com

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Michael and Sara Floyd of Bryarton Farm in rural Kansas. Together Michael and Sara shared a dream of owning a historic farmhouse in the country as a creative space for their art and design studio, and today they’re sharing about the adventure of bringing that dream to life.

From what brought them to Kansas, to Sara’s tips and tricks for finding historic properties, and creative ways to survive a lengthy renovation, this is a journey that celebrates the humble farmer from centuries past and highlights the importance of preserving these places for the generations to come.

Over time this house and farm have become more than just a project for their family of five, it’s a place where they get to witness miracles and the place where love conquers all, and that includes their newly adopted daughter, Ellie. This is a story we know you’re gonna love.

This is an important story in so many ways and we admire Michael and Sara for honoring the history of their home and their intentionality behind preserving the original detail and architecture, plus their perseverance to see this project through.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Zillow
bryartonfarm.com
Instagram: /bryartonfarm

n this episode of the podcast we’re with Brandi Lahey of Cimarron Prairie Farms and The Tipsy Farmer in Moscow, Kansas (pop. 272). Brandi is sharing about the journey that’s taken her from being a nurse to a farmer’s wife and mom to now growing hops.

This has been quite an adventure, from learning about hops and how to grow them, to cold-calling breweries, to finding ways to diversify the uses for her crop. Plus, how she decided to turn the family camper into a mobile craft beer and cocktail bar.

She talks about the importance of mentorship and how that helped her get going, community over competition, and the big new project she’s working on.

Something that really stands out about Brandi is her perseverance and how she is constantly innovating. You’ll appreciate all the hard work she has put into these businesses and hearing about the success she is having with her hops and The Tipsy Farmer. Something tells us this is just the beginning for her!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Moscow, Kansas
Kansas Hop Company
Dodge City Brewing
Garden City Brewery
Hop Leaf Tea
Calloused Hands Bounty
The Tipsy Farmer
Facebook: /thetipsyfarmer /cimarronprairiefarms
Instagram: @the.tipsy.farmer