Rural Revival

Today we’re talking with Nevada Miller of Nevada Watt Brand in Frenchglen, Oregon (pop. 12). Nevada creates eclectic silver jewelry that incorporates traditional Western design with cultural elements on her ranch in Oregon. She’s talking with us today about what it was like growing up in an artistic, entrepreneurial family, how she developed her own style, why she shares her craft with others, and how she balances her work with ranch life. She also shares some encouragement for other makers who are living in remote, rural areas.

Be sure to hit up the show notes where you can check out Nevada’s work and sign up for her Maker’s Mail, where she shares about everything from how to price your work to the everyday tools she uses.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Frenchglen, Oregon
Coalinga, California
Fusion Silver Show
Brannaman Pro-Am Roping
Pint Sized Expo
Steens Mountains
Profit First
Instagram: @nevadaw
Facebook: /nevada.watt
nevadawatt.com
Nevada Watt Brand Email List

On today’s podcast we’re with Justine Sindt of East of Omaha, a live music venue in Griswold, Iowa (pop. 1,036). Justine shares about how she and her family are bringing live music to Griswold and how that was inspired by some time spent in Nashville. Plus, we’re talking about her heart for her hometown, and how important it is to save our stages and live music venues from the devastating effects of COVID.

You’ll love Justine and her family’s vision and perspective on their hometown and what they’re doing to make sure Griswold is a thriving place for future generations.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Griswold, Iowa
Pinewood Social
East of Omaha Gift Cards
eastofomaha.com
Save Our Stages
Facebook: /eastofomaha
Instagram: @eastofomaha

On this episode of the podcast, we’re talking with Mindy Crook and Darin Smith of Arch Icon Development Corporation in Woodbine, Iowa (pop. 1,459). Arch Icon specializes in historic renovation and community development projects, and it all started with a Main Street restoration in their hometown. Darin and Mindy share how they, along with Mindy’s husband Dustin, built their business and started a revitalization movement in Woodbine. We also talk about why it’s important to save our historic buildings and how that’s possible, and what they’re doing to make Woodbine a place their kids will want to come back to someday — just like they did.

You’ll love the ripple effect that has come from what the Arch Icon team started with those few Main Street buildings, and hearing how their business has evolved from there. Be sure to check out the show notes to see the amazing transformations of the projects they’ve worked on, including Woodbine’s Main Street!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Woodbine, Iowa
Buena Vista University
Woodbine Community Betterment & Development Corporation
Main Street America
Facade Masterplan Grant with the Downtown Revitalization Fund in Iowa
Oddfellows Building
The Junction
Lofts on 24th in Omaha
Sioux City Central High School Annex - Aberdeen Apartments
The Everett
The Flats on Howard
State Historic Preservation Office of Iowa
Main Street Iowa
Iowa Economic Development Authority
City of Omaha
Nebraska Historic Tax Credit
Iowa Finance Authority
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
The CREW Center
Dunlap, Iowa
STEM Center
Tommy Gate
Woodbine Manufacturing
Grato Holdings
Rose Vista
Alegent Clinic
Woodbine Main Street
Eagle Heights
Garage Lofts
Arch Icon Development Corporation

Today on the podcast we’re with Ed Roberson, host of the Mountain & Prairie podcast and Conservation Director at Palmer Land Trust in Colorado. We’re talking about Ed’s journey from real estate and the business world into land conservation, the podcast community that he’s built, and the important work of conservation and how to get involved with conservation in your area. We also touch on the unique opportunities rising up in rural America as a result of COVID.

You’ll love hearing about the work Ed is doing both with Palmer Land Trust and through the Mountain & Prairie Podcast and we highly encourage you to go check out the podcast if you haven’t already! And stay tuned for a fun giveaway we’ll be doing with our listeners with the books on Ed’s 20 Most Influential Books list.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Tarboro, North Carolina
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Palmer Land Trust
James Decker - Mountain & Prairie Podcast
Allison Ryan - Mountain & Prairie Podcast
The Aspen Institute
Hampton Sides
Blood & Thunder
Live in Boseman! - Mountain & Prairie Podcast
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
Leave It As It Is
20 Most Infuential Books I’ve Read in the Past 10 Years
Dr. Mike Bartolo
Rocky Ford, Colorado
Great Outdoors Colorado
mountainandprairie.com
Ed’s Book Recommendations
Good News from the American West

This week on the podcast we’re with Maartje Murphy of Duchessa Gelato in Carrington, North Dakota (pop. 2,065). Maartje is sharing how she built her business with a premium farm-fresh product, a gelato cart, and a lot of sacrifice and determination. Her gelato is now in demand across the state and the business is expanding into the agritourism space, where they will offer gelato, gouda cheese, and other dairy products on their new farmstead.

You are going to love this fun business that Maartje has built, and it will be so exciting to see her plans come to life on the new farmstead. We have a feeling this is only just the beginning for her! Be sure to check out the show notes for all the links and to follow along.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Carrington, North Dakota
Gelato University Immersion Course - Chicago
Van Bedaf Dairy
Cows and Co Creamery
APUC Grant
Facebook: /duchessagelato
Instagram: @duchessagelato
Instagram: @cowsandcocreamery
duchessagelato.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Lukas Fricke of ChorChek in Ulysses, Nebraska (pop. 171). Lukas is a sixth generation farmer at Union Farms and the inventor of the new ChorChek technology that’s creating a lot of buzz in the ag world. ChorChek streamlines farm operations and data collection, allowing subscribers to keep digital records in a simplified, secure way and giving producers more time to focus on the animals. We’re talking about how this new technology helps tell the story of where your meat comes from and how his college entrepreneurship program is what originally sparked this idea. Lukas also shares about opportunity within our rural communities, the importance of connectivity for the future of rural America, and where COVID is presenting opportunity for agriculture.

Lukas is proof that you just never know where your connections will take you, and his ChorChek technology is going to be a game changer in the industry. Be sure to check out the show notes and follow along with Lukas and the latest developments with ChorChek.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Ulysses, Nebraska
Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at University of Nebraska
Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium
Nebraska Beef Council
Blockchain
LoRa
Farm Credit
Farm Bureau
Suiter & Swantz
Lincoln Premium Poultry
David City, Nebraska
Staplehurst, Nebraska
Seward, Nebraska
Surprise, Nebraska
Twitter: @lukasfricke
Instagram: @lukasfricke94
chorchek.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Allison Ryan of Explore Ranches — a web platform of ranch rentals that Allison and her friends Jay and Jesse created that features incredible private properties and experiences and helps people connect to the outdoors. As someone who has always had a passion for the outdoors, Allison is sharing how Explore Ranches is providing a service to both land owners and visitors, and how they are creating interest in conserving and protecting some incredible wild places.

You’ll love how Allison, Jay, and Jesse thought outside of the box to create Explore Ranches, and how they are opening up a new avenue to landowners through hospitality that allows people to exclusively experience these beautiful places.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Davis Mountains
The Withers
Davis Mountains Nature Conservancy Preserve
Tall Rock Shelter
Fort Davis
McDonald Observatory
Chandler Ranch
Hudspeth River Ranch
Ranch 2810 Marfa
Marfa, Texas
Donald Judd
Rocker B Ranch
Armenderis Ranch
Llano Springs Ranch
Chandler Ranch
Tejon Ranch
Ladder Ranch
exploreranches.com
Facebook: /exploreranches
Instagram: @exploreranches

This week on the podcast we’re with Greg Roskos and Rob Grover of Winghaven Pizza Farm in Galesville, Wisconsin (pop. 1,481). Greg, who grew up always in the kitchen, and Rob, who was looking for a way to bring a new kind of business to his family farm, put their entrepreneurial minds together and created Winghaven Pizza Farm, where you’ll find stone-fired pizzas, local beer and wine, live music — all on the family farm. We’re talking about the importance of supporting local businesses in our rural communities, what it means to have a seasonal business, and creating a new experience for this fifth generation family farm.

You'll love Greg and Rob’s heart for their community and supporting the locals, and how they keep growing and expanding this business. Plus, this concept for a new kind of business and experience built around the family farm. Be sure to check out the show notes and make plans to visit Winghaven Pizza Farm soon!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Arcadia, Wisconsin
Galesville, Wisconsin
Trempealeau County
Facebook: /winghavenpizzafarm
Instagram: @winghaven_pizza_farm
Website: winghavenpizzafarm.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Shane Riley of J Bar D Canvas and Leather in Oreana, Idaho (pop. 7, or maybe 8). Shane is sharing how he and his wife Amy started their business with $135 and a Facebook post. We’re talking about how they’ve built their business, what it means to have a quality, American-made product, and keeping the cowboy way of life alive.

You’ll love the principles that Shane and Amy have built this business on and their heart for giving and investing in the next generation of cowboys. And it’s going to be exciting to follow along as they start to create their canvas under the stars experience!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Lehi, Arizona
Oreana, Idaho
Spanish Ranch
Jordan Valley Big Loop Rodeo
Western Horseman
Tom Balding
Riddle Ranch
J.S. Garcia
YP Ranch
Yellowstone
Filson
Schaefer Outfitter
Instagram: @jbardcanvasandleather
Facebook: /jbardcanvasandleather
Website: jbardcanvasandleather.com

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Dan Jurek and Jeff Bajek of True North Basecamp in Crosby, Minnesota (pop. 2,386). Dan and Jeff are friends and, more recently, business partners after they saw an opportunity to create a better camping experience for visitors to the Cuyuna Recreation Area. This increasingly popular destination for mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts, where local abandoned mine pits have been transformed into a recreational playground.

Dan and Jeff are sharing about the experience they provide at True North Basecamp and how that includes the town and local businesses, the transformation they have seen in the area, plus working with a city on new zoning, and the importance of an area not being tied to one industry. You will love how Dan and Jeff have made the town of Crosby a part of their experience at True North Basecamp and how they see the town’s success as part of their success as well. Plus, they’ve created something that’s a little bit outside the traditional Minnesota Lakes experience, and they’re drawing in even more people because of it.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Hayward, Wisconsin
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
Cuyuna Trails Crew
Crosby, Minnesota
Ironton, Minnesota
Minnesota DNR
Deerwood, Minnesota
Website: truenorthbasecamp.com
Facebook: /truenorthbasecamp
Instagram: @truenorthbasecamp
Twitter: @truenorthbasecamp