Rural Revival

Today we’re with Brett McPherson of Arcadia, Oklahoma (pop. 247). Brett is the interior designer behind Designer’s Brew, where she has been styling incredible spaces since 2004. She’s sharing how her dream of owning her own interior design firm came to life and how she has built and grown her business. We also talk about the value of hard work, following your gut, boundaries, and some of the hard lessons she’s learned through this journey.

You will love Brett and her design style, and there is so much to glean from this conversation! Be sure to go check out her socials, and if you haven’t seen her barndominium yet, we have a link for you in the show notes!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Stafford, Oklahoma
Butler, Oklahoma
Arapahoe, Oklahoma
McCaleb Homes - Edmond, OK
Lazy E
Farm Credit
Architectural Digest
Cowgirl Magazine
Cowboys & Indians
StoneRidge Homes
Waxahachie, Texas
Cashion, Oklahoma
Southwestern College
Stuart Ranch
The Lark
Instagram: @designersbrew
Facebook: /designersbrew
TikTok: @designersbrew
Barndominium video
www.designersbrew.com

On today’s podcast we’re with Jasmin Stidham of Stidham Outfitters in Johnson City, Texas (pop. 1,656). Stidham Outfitters started in 2014 when Jasmin and her husband Seth opened a brick and mortar to sell home goods, gifts and apparel — including Seth’s handmade leather goods. Jasmin shares about the importance of building relationships, their focus on quality, American-made products, and creating a unique experience for their customers. We also talk about how their business has evolved over the years and how they’re now shifting their focus to better fit their passions.

Something that impressed you about this interview is how Jasmin and Seth are taking the risk to shift their business and embrace change. We’re so excited about what’s ahead for these two, and they’re going to be sharing more and more with you about what’s to come over the next weeks and months, so be sure to go give them a follow.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown Rodeo
Yeti
Stidham Outfitters playlist
Johnson City, Texas
Texas Monthly
Carson Jeffrey
Texas Hill Country
Dripping, Texas
Marble Falls, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas
Weatherford, Texas
Faire
Etsy
Johnson City Chamber of Commerce
Rural Revival Cookbook Submission Form

On today’s episode we’re with Todd Weber of The Earlham Echo, a weekly newspaper in Earlham, Iowa (pop. 1,450). This publication started out as a group effort involving several community members, and now Todd and his wife Jennifer have taken over ownership. Todd is sharing how the town originally brought in this new newspaper and took a group approach to the editorial process, and even turned a profit in its first year. We talk about what it means to have a printed newspaper in today’s digital age and why this is important to our small towns, and we also touch on the revival currently happening in Earlham.

You’ll love hearing about the success that Todd and Jennifer are having with the Earlham Echo, and it’s so exciting to see a printed newspaper thrive in our digital world, plus the positive approach they’re taking with the news and how that’s resonated so well with the community. Let’s all go show the Earlham Echo some love and give them a like on their Facebook page!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Earlham, Iowa
Mexico, Missouri
INA - Iowa Newspaper Association
Earlham Echo

On today’s podcast we’re with Francesca Catalini, the photographer and storyteller behind the Sierra Winds Instagram account. Francesca has a passion for capturing some of rural America’s remaining treasures before they are forever gone from our landscape. We talk a lot through Rural Revival about the future our towns, but it’s also important that we honor the past, and we’re so glad we have people like Francesca who are doing just that.

You’ll love what Francesca is doing and how she has found a great way to honor these buildings and stories and their role in history. Let this be an encouragement to you to preserve that town history you have left. Interview the people who know it before they’re gone. Capture that important information and honor your town’s past and its legacy. And if you have a great place for Francesca to come and shoot, send her a DM and let her know about it.

SHOW NOTES:
Cripple Creek, Colorado
Paxico, Kansas
Lost Springs Church
Trinidad, Colorado
St. Aloysius Church
Diamond Springs, Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Santa Fe Trail
Journey of the Dead Man
Abandoned Colorado
Two Lanes Blog
Michael Raymond-James
Instagram: @sierra_winds

On today’s podcast we’re with Francesca Catalini, the photographer and storyteller behind the Sierra Winds Instagram account. Francesca has a passion for capturing some of rural America’s remaining treasures before they are forever gone from our landscape. We talk a lot through Rural Revival about the future our towns, but it’s also important that we honor the past, and we’re so glad we have people like Francesca who are doing just that.

You’ll love what Francesca is doing and how she has found a great way to honor these buildings and stories and their role in history. Let this be an encouragement to you to preserve that town history you have left. Interview the people who know it before they’re gone. Capture that important information and honor your town’s past and its legacy. And if you have a great place for Francesca to come and shoot, send her a DM and let her know about it.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Cripple Creek, Colorado
Paxico, Kansas
Lost Springs Church
Trinidad, Colorado
St. Aloysius Church
Diamond Springs, Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Santa Fe Trail
Journey of the Dead Man
Abandoned Colorado
Two Lanes Blog
Michael Raymond-James
Instagram: @sierra_winds

We are soooo excited to kick off the podcast for 2021 and could not have picked a better interview to kick off the year! Today we’re talking with artist Amy Smith and fashion designer Cyndi Sarver of Textile Revival in Leipers Fork, Tennessee (pop. 650). Amy and Cyndi are working together to create wearable art through their one-of-a-kind pieces. They’re sharing about their business journey, their creative process and how they make their partnership work, and how they’re breaking the boundaries and doing things their own way. And let’s just say, if you are a creative, you are going to LOVE this episode!!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Very Ralph - Ralph Lauren documentary
Picture of photo shoot
The Shops at Leipers Corner
Good Grit Magazine article
Instagram: @textilerevival
Website: textile-revival.com

Today on the podcast we’re with Callie Taylor Dayton of May Tree Farm in Maysville, West Virginia (pop. 2,141). Callie is a tourism pro turned economic developer and has a big heart for small towns and small businesses. She’s sharing about her experiences with May Tree Farm, her family’s mountain grown Christmas tree farm, and also about creating opportunities for her community and why there’s a lot of rural opportunity right now.

You’ll love Callie’s heart for small businesses and everything she does to support other small, local businesses in her area, and we can’t wait to see what she does next! Be sure to check out the show notes and give her a follow on social media!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Petersburg, West Virginia
Maysville, West Virginia
Pilgrim’s
May Tree Farm
Junior National Hereford Expo
No Roots Boots
Romney, West Virginia
Grant County Convention & Visitors Bureau
South Side Depot
Grant County Development Authority
Mon Forest Towns Partnership
Monongahela National Forest
Dolly Sods Wilderness
HubCAP - Communities of Achievement
Virgin Hyperloop
Tucker County
Instagram: @callietaylordayton
Instagram: @maytreefarm
Facebook: /wvmaytreefarm

Today on the podcast we’re with Abby Roleau of The Gateway Farm in Bristol, Vermont (pop. 3,894). Abby’s talking about how she and her husband are building their dream farm from scratch and starting a business with four kids in tow. She shares how they have gradually built and diversified their farm, including the farm fresh meats they raise and sell and how they’re bringing maple and birch syrup from their trees to your table. Plus you’ll learn how they’re carrying on the family legacy of sugar makers.

You’ll love all the different things Abby and her family are involved in on the farm and how they believed their dream was possible even when others didn’t. Be sure to check the show notes for links where you can follow Abby on the farm and where you can purchase their products!

Also, be sure to hit up our Rural Makers + Creators Gift Guide for some great gift ideas, all made in rural America! And, if you’re a small business owner, we’ve created over 60 social media templates you can download for free to help you encourage your followers to shop small this Christmas season.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Bristol, Vermont
2020 Rural Makers + Creators Gift Guide
Instagram: @thegatewayfarm
Facebook: /thegatewayfarm
thegatewayfarm.com

Today on the podcast we’re with Tammy Pate of Ryegate, Montana (pop. 234), creator of Art of the Cowgirl. Art of the Cowgirl is a gathering to celebrate cowgirls and their contributions to western lifestyle and culture, and to raise funds to support up and coming artists to expand their knowledge and skills. Tammy shares about growing up in the rodeo world and the inspiration behind Art of the Cowgirl. We also talk about overcoming fear, the important role of mentorship, and preserving the western way of life.

You’ll love what Tammy is doing with Art of the Cowgirl and that the heart of this event is to give back and to lift one another up. Mark your calendars for January 13-17, 2021 at Horseshoe Park in Queen Creek, Arizona and be sure to check out the show notes where you’ll find links to buy tickets and learn more about everything going on at the event. We hope to see you there!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Ryegate, Montana
Buck Brannaman
The Horse Whisperer
AQHA
Nancy Martiny
Toni Kay Tolli
Encampment, Wyoming
Robin Rich - Wrangler
Corona Ranch
Laveen, Arizona
Queen Creek, Arizona
Horseshoe Park
Amy Raymond
Instagram: @artofthecowgirl
Facebook: /artofthecowgirl
artofthecowgirl.com

Today on the podcast we’re with Stacy Bannor of Bannor Toys in Madrid, Iowa (pop. 2,543). Stacy’s sharing how what started as her husband’s creative outlet to support her daycare quickly turned into a popular wooden toy business. From moving their business from their garage to the city and then to a small town, plus expanding their business line to later refining that into a core line, it’s been quite an exciting journey. We also talk abut what it means to have a family business and advice for couple entrepreneurs who are working together.

Bannor Toys are some of our favorite gifts to give at baby showers, so head on over to their website and check out their product line - because we have a feeling you’ll feel the same way about them as we do!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Nordstrom
aden + anais
Magnolia Market
East Village
Instagram: @bannortoys
Facebook: /bannortoys
bannortoys.com