• The American Countryside is truly a slice of Americana. It might be a well-known music or TV star or just someone with an interesting story that lives down the street. From Iditarod sled dog mushers, to NASA scientists... from the Rooster Crowing Championships to NFL greats...The American Countryside is sure to be of interest. Click the button above to listen to the latest show, or visit the American Countryside archives.
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Western Expansion

Daniel Boone is one of the most famous American frontiersmen. But when he crossed the Mississippi River, he went to work for a country other than the newly founded United States…

An Early History of St. Louis

It’s one of the oldest and largest cities on the Mississippi River. Although some may have heard of names like Laclede and Chouteau, why did they choose this spot for a town and why did it become the city it is today?

Levee High Apple Pie

The flood of 1993 almost washed away this restaurant. The levee saved the building and provided the inspiration behind their best selling item. Now, they’re baking and mailing pies across the nation…

Baking Cookies at the Blue Owl

1983 was the best of times and worst of times for Mary. She was going through a divorce, but it’s also the year she began baking cookies. What began in her own kitchen has grown into a national sensation…

Menno Attema

Imagine growing up on a farm and then in your early twenties traveling on your own a half a world away to begin a new farming operation. That’s what this man did…

Farming on Two Continents

As you know, AgriGold has been our sponsor of the American Countryside for the past few weeks, and I recently had a chance to meet a farmer who not only uses their hybrids, but who has a story very unique in the farming industry. His story of farming on two different continents is today’s edition of the American Countryside…

A Modern Day Perry Mason

Perry Mason was a star defense attorney on the silver screen, but we doubt he ever had to work with 3000 clients in one year. Today you’ll meet the man who does just that…

A Public Defender

Our law system guarantees everyone the right to a lawyer. Mike is the guy the court might appoint to help you…and that’s not a bad deal…

A McCrea Family Christmas

mccreachristmas2009

Governor Gravesites in Missouri

govgravesiteDown dirt and gravel roads, off the main highway on paths once well traveled, but now forgotten, you can find small country cemeteries. As families moved, many are not even mowed and cared for today. But in the state of Missouri, a few of those old resting places have received special recognition because of the men buried there…

Networking the Union with the Pony Express

waddell2Although the first riders of the Pony Express left from St. Joseph, Missouri, it could be argued that the headquarters of the operation was 50 miles to the southeast in Lexington, Missouri…

Forming the Pony Express

russellmajorswaddellThey are three names etched in the history of western exploration and settlement: Russell, Majors and Waddell. Here’s one of their ancestors; a woman who can still share much of the story of how these three men sought to tame the west…

Strong Man Steve Schmidt

strongmansteve(Leslie, Missouri)–Every dentist that has ever advised not to crush ice or hard candy with one’s teeth will not want to meet Steve Schmidt. His teeth are the main attraction and what results from each of his shows is sure to make a dentist squirm–and perhaps you as well…

Teaching Small Farming Methods That Work

freerangechicken3When Herman’s son brought home an antiquated animal production book that he happened to find in his high school ag classroom, Herman decided that some of the animal production methods were still quite relevant today, yet they weren’t being used. What resulted is quite a small farm success story…

Free Range Poultry

freerangechicken2This poultry producer wouldn’t say his goal is to take on the big boys in the chicken world and win, but he certainly has done well for himself. His methods are the antithesis of larger production methods, yet what he practices and teaches to others has been very successful…

Herm’s 1930s Farm in the 21st Century

freerangechicken1Herman’s farm may look like it is cut out of the 1930’s, but when you dig deeper, you find that he is using some of the methods of yesteryear to turn great profits today…

Silver Moon Feeds

silvermoonfeedYou can buy feed from a lot of different places, but what makes Silver Moon Feeds special is how this one family has stayed in business for over a century and what they’re doing to make sure the company stays in business for another 100 years…

Battle of the Hemp Bales

hempbalesThe bullet holes still scar the inside and outside of this home, a place that was a hospital during a skirmish known as ‘The Battle of the Hemp Bales’ in Lexington, Missouri…

Mastadon Park

Imagine you unearthed the bones of an animal and had little idea of what you found. Now imagine making up a tale about the creature and traveling the nation to tell its story. That’s exactly what happened just south of St. Louis…

Visit Saint Joseph, Missouri: The Pony Express Museum & Stables

All this week we are in St. Joseph, MO and today’s stop is perhaps the place for which the city is best known. Remember you can plan your own trip by logging on to stjomo.com. It’s the place were the west officially started getting wild…