On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Eddie and Julie Flores of Nursing Back to Life, which follows their restoration of an old house in Lincoln, Kansas (pop. 1,171) that is now their home. It all started when a free house in Julie’s hometown went viral and they decided they just might be the ones that wanted to save it!

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Dakota Dawn Johnson, host of the Cowgirl Confessions podcast, in Mound City, Kansas (pop. 647). Dakota is a ranch wife, podcast host, and successful saleswoman and is sharing with us about her wonderfully wild and western life, as she likes to call it.

Josh Smith started making knives at age 11 and went on to become the youngest Journeyman Smith and youngest Master Smith. Fast forward to two years ago and a meeting with country artist Thomas Rhett where he got the push he needed to quit his job and go all in with this business, and from there it exploded practically overnight.

In 1988 the train depot was moved from its location in Courtland to create their current storefront one mile north of town on 36 Highway. As time passed, interest in local apples began to wane and habits of canning and preserving changed.

Luke and Jennifer Mahin are the co-owners of Irrigation Ales located in Courtland, Kansas. Irrigation Ales’ mission is to positively influence our rural region and people through fermentation.

What is needed more in a thriving small town than healthcare, especially in rural America? Talk to most people in North Central Kansas and the average drive to seek healthcare services is 30+ miles. With populations aging and pandemics taking center stage, bringing BIG city resources to small towns is just what Pivotal Health & Wellness is doing.

About 20 years ago a resident of McPherson, Kansas by the name of Jim Elliott was a frequent visitor of Gamekeeper’s Marsh seven miles south of Courtland where he hunted ducks each season. Having noticed the ruins of a limestone house sitting on a rise to the east of the marsh, he thought it would be a great place to build a home.

Adri and Chris first visited Formoso, Kansas in 2018 on a road trip, and this is when the seed hit the soil! At the time they were residing just outside of Denver in South Aurora. Adri a city lifer, having never lived anywhere outside a 10-mile radius of where she was born, and myself a former east-coaster.

Heartland Gamebirds was born out of a mutual love for two things, upland birds hunts and Courtland, Kansas. The dream of offering a fully guided, all inclusive hunting experience became a reality in 2019. The following year, they purchased two historic bank buildings on Main Street to restore as their lodge.

With a population of just under 300 residents, Courtland, Kansas stands out from other communities our size in a few ways. Our Main Street is full of small businesses, the school is maintaining its class sizes, and the median age of our residents is getting younger. Part of the cultural fabric of Courtland is coming together to create success.

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Shanna Lindberg of Soul Sister Ceramics in Courtland, Kansas. Shanna and her business partner, knowing nothing about how to make pottery, bought a kiln and became self taught pottery makers using Kansas clay from the Flint Hills.

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Kim Ellenz of Old School Seals in Tipton, Kansas. Old School Seals custom makes wax seals and stamps for people around the world — all from a small town — and today Kim is bringing us inside to tell us all about it.

On this episode of the podcast we’re with Nicky Tiffany of The Territory Ballroom in Council Grove, Kansas (pop. 2,140), where she’s sharing about her hopes and dreams for this business and building when the doors open — as an event space, co-working space, Airbnb, and more.

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Michael and Sara Floyd of Bryarton Farm in rural Kansas. Together Michael and Sara shared a dream of owning a historic farmhouse in the country as a creative space for their art and design studio, and today they’re sharing about the adventure of bringing that dream to life.

On this episode of the podcast we’re with Brandi Lahey of Cimarron Prairie Farms and The Tipsy Farmer in Moscow, Kansas. Brandi is sharing about the journey from being a nurse to a farmer’s wife and mom to now growing hops, plus how she turned the family camper into a mobile cocktail bar.

We’re kicking off our fourth season of the podcast with Lettie McKinney of MC- Ranch, The Roundtop, and McKinney Farms in Johnson, Kansas (pop. 1,464). Lettie is sharing what it’s been like to come back and take over her family farm and ranch and the incredible journey that she’s been living out.

Francesca Catalini, the photographer and storyteller behind Sierra Winds, dedicates her time and Instagram account to sharing some of rural America’s remaining treasures. She’s sharing some of her favorite abandoned places in Kansas — which you may want to check out, too.

On today’s podcast we’re with Francesca Catalini, the photographer and storyteller behind the Sierra Winds Instagram account. Francesca has a passion for capturing some of rural America’s remaining treasures before they are forever gone from our landscape.

I graduated college with my first studio waiting on Main Street for me at home. I moved through a few Main Street buildings and lofts before settling into what I believe will be Capture’s forever home — my biggest dream of my career.

In 2008, I knew immediately when we moved back to my husband’s hometown community that I wanted to be a part of the Main Street community spirit. I wasn’t sure how or what it would one day look like, but I could no longer ignore it.