The Blue Ridge Parkway stands out among America’s national parks: Unfurling across six Appalachian mountain chains, it connects dozens of rural communities and binds together generations of families through shared memories.
In His Element
For artist Kent Paulette, creativity arrives when he’s surrounded by nature, knee-deep in a creek.
Home on the Range
The Steep Canyon Rangers have soared to great heights, playing some of the most iconic stages in the world. Yet their roots remain firmly planted in the mountains of North Carolina.
For Love of the Country
A career in economic development trains you to lean into data. Yet when it comes to describing the value of rural life, one writer finds more meaning in memories than metrics.
Answering the Call
In Randolph County and across the state, volunteer firefighters never hesitate to help a neighbor in need.
Where Print Lives
Across North Carolina, small-town newspapers make a major impact by reporting on the people and events that shape local communities.
The Family Business
When you grow up in Clinton and your dad runs one of the few newspapers in your small town, being a part of the “staff” isn’t really an option.
Barton College’s Bulldog Believers
After more than 70 years, football is back at Barton College, a small liberal arts school in the heart of Wilson County. Now, student athletes from rural high schools across North Carolina are finding not only a place to play, but also futures beyond sports.
Raising the Steaks With Shipley Beef
The Shipley family is again raising cattle on their picture-perfect farm near Vilas — just as the first Shipleys did more than 150 years ago.
