Rural Revival

This week on the podcast we’re with Nicolle Fugere of Missouri River Outfitters in Fort Benton, Montana (pop. 1,443). Nicolle’s started as a guide for Missouri River Outfitters when she was 19, has worked for them every summer since, and always dreamed of someday owning the company. That dream came true four years ago and she has created a great life around this very special part of Montana. She’s sharing how she’s bringing in new ideas and taking the company even further and bringing a true Montana experience to her customers.

You’ll love how Nicolle has embraced the community in Fort Benton — and how the community has embraced her. Be sure to check out the show notes for some amazing photos of what you can expect to see on the Missouri River Outfitters’ trips and follow along to see Nicolle’s vision of a new company storefront come to life.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Billings, Montana
Fort Benton, Montana
Stephen Ambrose
Lewistown, Montana
Judith Landing
www.mroutfitters.com
Facebook:/mroutfitters
Instagram: @missouririveroutfitters

This week on the podcast we’re with Darren and Meagan Orsag of Leeco Honey in Lexington, Texas (pop. 1,178). What started out as a hobby has grown into a beekeeping and honey business with products that fly off the shelves and continues to grow. Darren and Meagan are sharing about teamwork, the importance of knowing your beekeeper, and their annual honey harvest and adopt-a-hive program.

You’ll love Darren and Meagan’s focus on community and how they are helping other beekeepers by sharing what they’ve learned. They plan to announce their next honey harvest dates soon, so be sure to go check out the show notes to follow along.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Brenham, Texas
Giddings, Texas
Lexington, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Snow’s BBQ
6G Heritage Farm
Instagram: @leecohoney
Facebook: /leecohoney
www.leecohoney.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Alise Sjostrom of Redhead Creamery in Brooten, Minnesota (pop. 743) where you will find ridiculously good, farmstead artisan cheese, made by Alise herself. After working out of state for other cheesemakers, Alise brought what she learned back to her family dairy farm and started Redhead Creamery — something that has been her dream since she was 16. She’s sharing about the cheesemaking process, the agritourism part of the farm that includes tours, dinners, and an on-the-farm shop, and how some temporary changes for COVID have been so successful that they will now become a permanent part of the way they do business. Plus, the cows mooing in the background and will make you feel like you’re right there on the farm during this interview!

SHOW NOTES:
Grafton Village Cheese Company
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese
American Cheese Society
Brooten, Minnesota
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Facebook: /redheadcreamery
Instagram: @redheadcreamery
www.redheadcreamery.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Alise Sjostrom of Redhead Creamery in Brooten, Minnesota (pop. 743) where you will find ridiculously good, farmstead artisan cheese, made by Alise herself. After working out of state for other cheesemakers, Alise brought what she learned back to her family dairy farm and started Redhead Creamery — something that has been her dream since she was 16. She’s sharing about the cheesemaking process, the agritourism part of the farm that includes tours, dinners, and an on-the-farm shop, and how some temporary changes for COVID have been so successful that they will now become a permanent part of the way they do business. Plus, the cows mooing in the background and will make you feel like you’re right there on the farm during this interview!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Grafton Village Cheese Company
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese
American Cheese Society
Brooten, Minnesota
Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Facebook: /redheadcreamery
Instagram: @redheadcreamery
www.redheadcreamery.com

This week on the podcast we’re with Andrea Stordahl of Minnesota Rust in McIntosh, Minnesota (pop. 625). Andrea’s sharing her story of how she and her family are giving back to a community that gave so much to her and her family when they needed it most - by restoring main street and bringing in a handful of new businesses. And it’s turning this town of 625 into a destination that both serves the locals and is drawing crowds from all around.

You’ll love Andrea’s story and how her unexpected path was really meant to be all along. Be sure to check out the show notes and the blog for pictures of the transformation that has taken place here!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
McIntosh, Minnesota
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fargo, North Dakota
Otter Tail Lake
Shady Hollow Flea Market
Bemidji, Minnesota
Howard Soap Company
The Red Poppy
Stordahl Construction
Neil’s Meat Market
Instagram: @minnesota_rust
Facebook: /minnesotarust
Ronnie’s Barbershop
The Beauty Room

This week on the podcast we’re with City of Jefferson, Iowa Building Official Nick Sorensen. Nick has played a key role in saving and restoring a number of historic buildings in Jefferson (pop. 4,345), and he’s sharing the strategies that have worked to make these projects successful. This episode is jam packed full of information and resources, so if you have dreams of fixing up a historic building in your rural town, get ready to take some notes!

You’ll love hearing Nick break down these projects and how they have come together. It’s a conversation that will spark some ideas for what might be possible in your small town!

SHOW NOTES:
Jefferson, Iowa
Hamlin, Iowa
Darrell’s Place
Exira, Iowa
Leadville, Colorado
International Property Maintenance Code
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Community Development Block Grant
Sensibly Chic
Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant
Preservation Iowa Award
Chris Deal
Jamie Daubendiek - Jefferson Telecom
Jefferson Matters: Main Street
Peg Rainey, Main Street Director
The Forge
Linc Kroeger
Grow Green Gaming Corporation / Wild Rose Casino
Greene County Career Academy
Main Street Iowa
Department of Natural Resources
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Lincoln Corridor
Jefferson Matters Facebook

This week on the podcast we’re with City of Jefferson, Iowa Building Official Nick Sorensen. Nick has played a key role in saving and restoring a number of historic buildings in Jefferson (pop. 4,345), and he’s sharing the strategies that have worked to make these projects successful. This episode is jam packed full of information and resources, so if you have dreams of fixing up a historic building in your rural town, get ready to take some notes!

You’ll love hearing Nick break down these projects and how they have come together. It’s a conversation that will spark some ideas for what might be possible in your small town!

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Jefferson, Iowa
Hamlin, Iowa
Darrell’s Place
Exira, Iowa
Leadville, Colorado
International Property Maintenance Code
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Community Development Block Grant
Sensibly Chic
Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant
Preservation Iowa Award
Chris Deal
Jamie Daubendiek - Jefferson Telecom
Jefferson Matters: Main Street
Peg Rainey, Main Street Director
The Forge
Linc Kroeger
Grow Green Gaming Corporation / Wild Rose Casino
Greene County Career Academy
Main Street Iowa
Department of Natural Resources
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Lincoln Corridor
Jefferson Matters Facebook

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Dirt Road Dietitian Sheri Glazier from Loyal, Oklahoma (pop. 79). Shari was just named Oklahoma's Outstanding Dietitian of the Year and is helping us better understand where our food comes from, making the connection between farm life and nutrition. She’s sharing how there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition, plus food myths, shopping your pantry, and more. Her perspective is refreshing and needed.

Be sure to check out Dirt Road Dietitian socials, and Shari has some great resources that are especially helpful right now during quarantine on her website.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Oklahoma State University
Digital Download: Pantry Staples
Oklahoma Beef Council
Loyal, Oklahoma
Instagram: @dirtroaddietitian
Facebook: /dirtroaddietitian
www.dirtroaddietitian.com

This week on the podcast we’re in Kilbourne, Ohio (pop. 139) with Josh Scheutzow of The Kilbourne Project. The Kilbourne Project is the story of four Ohio families who are helping preserve the historic town of Kilbourne for future generations. These families are risking it all on this passion project as they seek to restore 11 historic buildings and bring 40 new jobs to the town — including their own businesses. It’s a story of restoration, community, and hope.

You’ll love how this group is committed to building community and even bringing their own small businesses to the town. Be sure to go check out their social media pages, where you can find pictures of the properties and renderings of the transformation we will see take place in Kilbourne.

Check out more on the blog.

SHOW NOTES:
Kilbourne, Ohio
Olmsted Falls, Ohio
A Carpenter’s Son
Alum Creek State Park
Instagram: @thekilbourneproject
Facebook: /thekilbourneproject
Kilbourne Market