“Every time we started to go to school, the old gray mare would wait till we got out on the road, right by our house, and then she'd go back into the ditch with the buggy that she was hitched to and head for the barn.”

Welcome to the Storytellers Porch!

Today, Jill is joined by Mrs. Barbara Ewing and her daughter Jacquie. Mrs. Ewing (who just celebrated her 100th birthday… on a motorcycle!) will be telling us stories about her childhood growing up in the farmlands of Kansas, riding a horse to school that always got spooked, and the dirt storms and the grasshoppers that plagued the farmlands.

This episode is a special one and quite different then our normal shows. The goal of this season of The Storytellers Porch is to help people understand what it is like to grow up in Kansas. Through the coincidence that tends to happen in close communities, Jill found out that her Aunt Nova that used to teach grade school in the one-room-schoolhouse in Kansas just so happened to teach right alongside today’s guest, Mrs. Ewing! Throughout today’s interview, you will continue to hear many connections between the Ewings and self-proclaimed city girl Jill (who is learning she has quite a bit of farmer in her too).

This episode is longer than our others as we did not want to cut any of the stories Mrs. Ewing, Jacquie, and Jill had to share today. We hope you enjoy all that is shared and are inspired to sit down and record your family story.

Find out more and see Jill's pictures of the transformation of her farm at:

The Storytellers Porch on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellersporch

The Storytellers Porch on Instagram, @thestorytellersporch, https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellersporch/

Behind the scenes information from the Stockport Farm https://www.facebook.com/StockportFarm

Thank you joining us on The Storyteller's Porch this week! Make sure you check us out at https://thestorytellersporch.com/, and subscribe and follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you don't miss a single story with us on the Porch. And we’d be honored if you give us a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode!

If you have a story about farming, ranching, or growing up in rural America, we want to hear your story and help you share it! These stories are what bring us hope in difficult times. Get in touch with Jill at https://thestorytellersporch.com/apply/ or send us an email at thestorytellersporch@gmail.com.

Always drink responsibly, don't drink and drive.

“The reason my great-great-grandparents came over here was for freedom and hope for their family. To start this generation and to give generational hope and freedom of living.

Some place like here.”

 - Deb Nyenhuis, today’s guest on The Storytellers Porch

Following the trend of last week’s episode with Dr. Mark Wright on The Storytellers Porch, Deb Nyenhuis and Jill talk today about life growing up on a farm. In a slight contrast to Dr. Wright’s childhood, who was a frequent visitor of his grandparent’s farm but didn’t live there, Deb lived her life on her parent’s farm in South Dakota until she went to college.

So much can be learned from life on a farm, as Deb and Jill discuss today. From a hard work ethic, to recovering from a huge financial hit (Deb’s father lost $70,000 on his farm in the ‘70s!), to self-sustainability… while these stories may be decades or even centuries old, the stories told and the lessons learned are just as, and maybe even more, relevant today.

Perhaps Jill sums up these lessons best, with a reminder we all need:

“My collective impact today is to just hold onto hope, no matter what. Human beings are strong, and smart, and inventive, and innovative, and capable, and we will make it through whatever is next, because we have hope and we have community.”

Find out more and see Jill's pictures of the transformation of her farm at:

The Storytellers Porch on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellersporch

The Storytellers Porch on Instagram, @thestorytellersporch, https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellersporch/

Behind the scenes information from the Stockport Farm https://www.facebook.com/StockportFarm

Thank you joining us on The Storyteller's Porch this week! Make sure you check us out at https://thestorytellersporch.com/, and subscribe and follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you don't miss a single story with us on the Porch. And we’d be honored if you give us a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode!

If you have a story about farming, ranching, growing up in rural America, or any thoughts from today’s show, we want to hear your story and help you share it! These stories are what bring us hope in difficult times. Get in touch with Jill at https://thestorytellersporch.com/apply/ or send us an email at thestorytellersporch@gmail.com.

Always drink responsibly, don't drink and drive.

Trigger warning: This episode contains dialogue of life on a sheep farm, which includes mentions of hunting and the death of animals. No animal cruelty is discussed.

“When somebody walks in my practice, they're in my house.

I want them to be at home.”

 - Mark H. Wright, DDS, today’s guest on The Storytellers Porch

Today’s story on The Porch at The Farm is a unique one, in the best way possible. Jill chats with Dr. Mark Wright, who spent a lot of time growing up at his grandparents sheep ranch and currently resides in the city of Colorado Springs, CO. Dr. Wright doesn’t consider himself a farmer but as we listen we find out he is truly a farmer at heart. As Jill states,

“there's so much to learn from not just the farm life, but the farm way of life.”

Jill and Dr. Wright discuss many of the logistics of spending time on the ranch, including birthing sheep, cleaning chicken coops, and going hunting. Then the interview turns to topics that are so pertinent in our society today: The importance of community, of supporting our local businesses, and the speed at which we approach life. Come along on this very special episode of The Storytellers Porch to hear some inspiring ways we can continue to change our community through stories. 

To find out more about Dr. Wright (and to book an appointment at his dentist practice if you’re in Colorado Springs!), please visit https://www.mhwdds.com/meet-dr-wright/

Find out more and see Jill's pictures of the transformation of her farm at:

The Storytellers Porch on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellersporch

The Storytellers Porch on Instagram, @thestorytellersporch, https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellersporch/

Behind the scenes information from the Stockport Farm https://www.facebook.com/StockportFarm

Thank you joining us on The Storyteller's Porch this week! Make sure you check us out at https://thestorytellersporch.com/, and subscribe and follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you don't miss a single story with us on the Porch. And we’d be honored if you give us a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode!

If you have a story about farming, ranching, growing up in rural America, or any thoughts from today’s show, we want to hear your story and help you share it! These stories are what bring us hope in difficult times. Get in touch with Jill at https://thestorytellersporch.com/apply/ or send us an email at thestorytellersporch@gmail.com.

Always drink responsibly, don't drink and drive.