
Trailblazing Fox Trotters
Missouri’s horse trots into new territory story by Sarah Joplin and photos by Zach Smith | info@ruralmissouri.coop The first horse trainer ever inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Geno Middleton, calls it the “horse bug.” He says if you are afflicted,...

Honey Haven
Harold’s Famous Bee Co. harvests the power of the honeybee On a cold winter day, Harold Gallaher knocked 100 honeybees into a bucket with the sweep of his arm. He tossed on a lid and rushed toward his warm house, with the hope of keeping the cold and unhappy honeybees...

Purveyors of Pork
Fiesta Pork & Walnut Tacos 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 pound lean pork tenderloin, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch thick strips 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder...

Power with a purpose
A candid conversation with Joe Wilkinson, Associated Electric's chief member relations officer For 25 years, Joe Wilkinson has worked for cooperative members at Associated Electric Cooperative, the power generation cooperative for electric cooperatives in Missouri and...

Co-op employees care
After hours, electric co-op people give back to their communities By day they repair lines, balance the books and communicate with members. After hours they volunteer in a host of community activities. When your employer puts great emphasis on Concern for Community,...

Larry’s line art
Laclede Electric lineman makes art from cast-off poles With a wide sweep of his hand, Larry Taylor gestures toward the pile of raw materials in his shop near Hartville. “All of this was headed to the trash,” Larry says. He’s talking about the stack of wood cut from...

Missouri Weird & Wonderful
Reedy Press books celebrate the Missouri you never knew Let’s face it: Missouri is a weird and wonderful state, with natural wonders, peculiar history, eccentric citizens and roadside attractions that rival those found just about anywhere. Since 2004, Reedy Press has...

HoneyBadger
Classic American fare with a memorable twist As soon as the front doors open, the kitchen is a flurry of activity. Hungry customers head to the counter to order one of Nick and Rachel Giacopelli’s creations for lunch. Online orders come in as fast as the couple...

Family, bluegrass and the open road
Lindley Creek exports Ozarks bluegrass to the nation Music has always been a foundation for the Greer family. The three kids would sing along to country music on the radio while their dad, John Rob, drove around Dallas County. “One day our youngest son, Jase, came...

Courthouse Cruise
Jack Snelling drove 4,347 Missouri miles to see all 115 courthouses in 10 days In May, Jack Snelling hit two milestones. First, he graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree of music in composition. Second, he completed an epic road trip that...