My dad taught me just about everything I ever needed to know about fishing, from starting me early with a riverbank sapling and length of fishing line to teaching me the finesse of handling his classic bamboo fly rod. Under Dad’s diligent tutelage I grew up an avid fisherman. more

Happy new year! Hopefully everyone made it through the “bomb cyclone” without any frozen water pipes and with furnaces and woodstoves still running. We all have been cleaning up lots of wrapping paper, many of us listening to our children play with all their new toys (including a goose call …) and trying to get rid of or at least stay out of the leftover holiday candy. The new year is a time for us all to do a quick reflection of the past year and then look forward and plan for a new and prosperous year. U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is no different, and we are ready to take a tried-and-true program into the new year with more funds available than usual to help agribusiness and producers. more

Without fail, every time I put my brand-new Farm Bureau calendar up on the wall, I get a few butterflies in my stomach. With every page turn comes a set of experiences, covering everything incredibly familiar and routine to moments that come completely out of left field. Although starting a new year might bring about some jitters, I try to see every page as a challenge to make both my life and the lives of those around me better at every opportunity. more

Though I’ve not heated with wood for 15 years or so, this time of year I really miss backing up to a woodstove, toasting on one side and then the other, just like in the old days. more

Fair Grove’s mill was built for John Frederick Boegel and Joseph W. Hine in 1883. Although it was owned and operated by numerous individuals down through the years, the best-known owner was Clifford Wommack, who passed away in 1969. Thus, the mill now goes by the name “Wommack Mill.” more

They say you never forget your first. When it comes to curse words, that’s certainly true for me. But let the record show, I was completely innocent! And I was probably framed by Bette Midler. Let me explain. more

Have we been isolated to the point that our relationships suffered through the pandemic? Then, the country was tearing itself apart with significant issues with polar opposite opinions, from Black Lives Matter to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Many people are afraid to state their views due to the backlash of harsh words and voided friendships. more

In the Missouri and Arkansas Region, Red Cross disaster response volunteers have also provided relief and comfort after home fires and other local disasters, including responding to tornadoes that ripped across the two-state region, and flooding that impacted the St. Louis area. more

Thank you to those who recommend women for this year’s ladies’ journal. Over the past few weeks, I’ve met fascinating and engaging women who inspire and care deeply about their … more

What I’m about to tell could not be verified, other than what Phoebe Rogers Lemon told Dan Manning and me. First, let me say that Phoebe manned the genealogy booth at the Reunion for many … more

I attended a Boy Scouts of America luncheon this past week honoring local banker Bill Monday. He was honored with the Forever Eagle, an award given to those who lived the Scout Oath and Law … more

“Pawpaw,” my granddaughter Katie asked on the telephone, “What can I do for a butterfly with a broken wing?” “I don’t know,” I told her. “I’ve … more