We’ve got a fascinating conversation with lawyer, farmer, and mayor James Decker of Stamford, Texas (pop. 3,124) this week on the podcast. James is setting an example we can all learn from when it comes to the revitalization of and commitment to our rural communities - and you’re about to find out why.

Revival can take place in many forms. But in the case of the purchase of the old Hotel Colonia, the first stage of revival for our community was the natural inclination to share how the building connected with each one of us and remembering our past with a smile. Slowly, as the community heard the news of the purchase, we were so blessed to hear story after story of moments that the building had touched people’s lives!

We’re sitting down with Trey and Shandy Pearson of Rowe Point Ranch in Hedley, Texas on this week’s podcast. Rowe Point Ranch is located on the former site of Rowe, Texas, a historic ghost town that is now being transformed into a beautiful West Texas event venue.

In a recent road trip through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, I realized the actual site of Little House on the Prairie in Independence, Kansas was just a mile off of my route and I knew I had to stop. I have to admit, it was a bit of a surreal moment. As I stood in front of the replica of that little log cabin on that windy day and looked at the land where the Ingalls family had settled, I couldn’t help but think of the parallels between their life as pioneers and our new generation of pioneering.

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Shellie Hughes and her dad Bobby Earl Bertram with Old Glory Schoolhouse in Monticello, Kentucky. You’re going to love hearing about all the creative ways they’re repurposing this old schoolhouse - and their fun connection to Magnolia in Waco, Texas. Plus a few fun stories from Bobby to keep us all entertained!

When you think of northern California you probably think of San Francisco, and the wineries of Napa and Sonoma. All are gorgeous, amazing locations! But, what you might not know is that the heart of northern California runs deep within the small rural farming communities north of Sacramento. Think rice farming, Friday night football, and simple small-town living.

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Becky Wilber of Wilber Fertilizer Service in Cherokee, Oklahoma. If you’re thinking about moving back to rural America, this episode is for you. This is a really important discussion where Becky shares openly and honestly about her decision to move back to her hometown and help run the family business, and why she says it was one of the hardest - but best - decisions of her life.

Scott Stebner is a nationally published agricultural photographer and videographer, creating photos and videos of people with grit. Scott’s sharing about some of the amazing projects he’s been involved with, why he has started to focus more on video, and why he’s not afraid to fail.

Stephanie Bradley Fryer is a lawyer and cattle producer from both Stamford, Texas and Chattanooga, Oklahoma - who also happens to be a fifth generation landowner. She’s telling more about how she makes it work splitting her time between two places, and how she’s established her place as a woman in both ag and law.

We've been struggling to drum up support for the library I work for over the past few years. There just hasn't been a lot in the way of funding to go around. But you see, our library is not just the library. It is a safe place for kids to play in, it's a place where people come to catch the town news, it's a community center, a town hall, a place to come for help of any kind. So what happens here affects the entire community.

This week on the podcast, Christy Jo of The Strawberry Patch and The Fruit Tea Chicks is sharing about her journey of learning to express herself though art, which eventually led to these two fun, creative businesses that she started out of Hartsville, Tennessee (pop. 2,369).

Music has always been a huge part of who Roger Cowan is, and he's sharing how that led to the start of his company, Dog Tired Guitars, on this week's podcast. We talk with Roger about why he believes in charity work and music education, why the story behind the guitar is so important, and why he wanted his company to be rooted in small-town, rural America.

These kids WANT to live in rural America. In fact, they're planning on it. So it is our job to pave the way to make it possible for them to do so. And as it turns out, the county fair is a great place to start.

If you are a creative in a small town, you’re going to love this episode of the podcast with JoAnna Robertson of Clarendon, Texas! She manages the Western Heritage Classic Ranch Horse Sale in Abilene and operates a wedding and portrait photography business throughout the Texas Panhandle.

From physical therapist to home store and coffee shop owner, Jaime England is telling the story behind what motivated her to take on the biggest storefront on Main Street in Manning, Iowa. She also talks about the revival happening in her hometown, where young people are excited to get involved!

The small-town environment gives us a lot of opportunities to be involved in the community. It has given us the opportunity to teach our children that volunteering and taking pride in your community is important. We are invested in the community and we want to help make this a great place to live!

It seems only fitting for a community whose slogan is “it’s refreshing” to embrace the idea of adding an outdoor aquatic center to its already well-developed indoor aquatic facility, and as one who loves the sun, summer, and soaking it all up by the water, I feel compelled to help lead the fundraising efforts.

Manning, Iowa (pop. 1,500) is our featured rural community this week. Manning has been recognized as an Iowa Small Business Administration Community of the Year award, winning out against cities of all sizes, and was highlighted for demonstrating ideal collaborative community efforts to support small business success.

Georgia Clamping Company is putting a whole new spin on camping as we know it. Owners Nate and Bek Self believe that luxury and comfort should not be sacrificed while enjoying the great outdoors, and they are creating unique, one-of-a-kind getaways where people can explore on their own terms.

Katie's story is what first inspired us to start the Rural Revival podcast, and you will quickly understand why. From the Iowa farm to Broadway and back, Katie's life is one amazing adventure. But her most recent move back to Iowa to open Harvey’s Diner is quite possibly her most exciting adventure yet!