• 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.
  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Have an idea for a story?

Best of 2010: Mount Washington

If you are ever tempted to think the winter weather where you live is bad, just wait until you hear Brian Clark’s story…

Pastor Boyd

Here’s the story about a man who delivers the story of Christmas. A man who inspires people to share the message with others…..

A Store for the Holidays

If Santa Claus needed a place to buy all of his decorations, this would be it. This big business in small town Michigan brings cheer every day of the year…..

A Future for Sleighs

Santa needs a sleigh to make deliveries around the world. This man makes sure he will never run out of transportation…..

The Denver, Missouri Sleigh Works

Winter weather can make travel treacherous, but once upon a time you simply hooked up your horse or team to a sleigh to make the trip over snow.  Sleighs may be long gone unless you go to Bill’s shop.  He has more than anyone else in all of North America…..

An Outside Courtroom Trial

In the days before air conditioning and microphones, this famous trial was held outside the courtroom, where thousands could get some fresh air and the orators could be heard with their natural voice. It’s the story behind the Scopes Evolution trial…..

“Bidding” to Host the Scopes Trial

Although the case was heard in 1925, it is still one of the best known today. A trial that one town, in a sense, went bidding for…..

The Future of Farm Policy

Turn on any news program and you can find plenty of debate on how Congress should tackle any number of high priorities right now. Perhaps lost in the shuffle is a critical farm bill that will shape the way farmers grow food for this nation and the world…..

The Farm Foundation

The world will add approximately three billion people in the next forty years. Farmers will be asked to feed those souls with less land, less water and fewer inputs. So how does one of the world’s leading agricultural thinkers see us accomplishing that task?

Parker Brothers

Park Place and Boardwalk are real places in Atlantic City, NJ. They became famous of course, through the game of Monopoly. The company that made the game though was ready to pull it from production…..

A Fountain Mightier than Skyscrapers

Many city parks have fountains.  But imagine a fountain that could shoot water higher than buildings and drew visitors from across the nation to view it?s amazing shows…..

To the Courts For a Park

We know names like Montgomery Ward and Marshall Field because of the stores that carried their name.  But most people do not know of the legal battle the two waged over a strip of land along Lake Michigan…..

Chicago’s Lake Park

In downtown Chicago there is a wide stretch of land between Michigan Avenue and the Lake Michigan that was never developed for business.  But why would a growing city not put skyscrapers on such prime land?

Cyrus McCormick

For centuries, crops were cut and threshed by hand. That all changed with a young farmer in Virginia. This is the story of a birthday present that revolutionized agriculture…..

Pearl Harbor Remembered

Although the events of December 7th, 1941 are nearly seven decades old, Americans do remember. They honor those who gave their lives in service to their country and they recall the tragic events on a Sunday morning so long ago.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Hawaii has long been a place where people come to enjoy sun, sand and surf. But it is also a place of deep history; a place with a tie to World War II that will never be forgotten…..

Days Americans Never Forget

Before there was a 9/11, there was December 7th. Both are days Americans will never forget. However, there are few Americans still living who where at Pearl Harbor that day…..

What’s Left of Hawaii’s Sugar Industry?

Hawaii is the land of sugar and sugar cane. At least that is what we may believe. However things have changed here on the islands…..

The History of Sugar in Hawaii

Many of us remember the commercials that sang of C&H pure cane sugar–that’s the one. You may be surprised who began the modern sugar industry in Hawaii…..

The History of Kauai, Hawaii

We’re back in Hawaii this week for a look at some of the islands history, but also for the December 7th anniversary at Pearl Harbor…..