Ozarks Alive

There’s black-and-white issues in life, but there’s also a lot of gray. It’s true today, as I head through the rural Ozarks for stops at a food pantry, a meeting with someone about a writing project, a Lions Club meeting, and work on a video. In between those things, I stopped briefly at the Caney Mountain Conservation Area where Starker Leopold’s cabin remains. (A link to an Ozarks Alive article about this landmark — inhabited by famed conservationist Aldo Leopold’s son while helping with wildlife restoration — is in the comments.)

Given how hot and dry it’s been this season, I’m betting this fall won’t look its best. Many trees are brown; leaves are starting to blow. But it’s still beautiful. Despite environmental challenges, there is still so much to appreciate. As I stood in the quiet and stillness and in what felt like complete peace, it was a reminder to look for the good amid the issues — environmental and otherwise — we must address. Because, thankfully, there’s often still good to see.

It’s a two-pie week as I took this raisin cream one to Champion’s porch today. Wednesday is when friends and neighbors gather at the tucked-away hamlet in rural Douglas County for music and visiting, and today was the perfect fall afternoon to be on the porch slicing the pie.

The pie was a good one — I have learned through this project that there are many varieties of raisin pie. This one’s heavy-cream base makes it more sour-cream-like, but not quite the same texture. This one came from Betty Oldham and was published in a cookbook by the Neola Missionary Council in rural Dade County, Missouri — a cookbook to which I have returned several times for pies.

In this particular recipe, I also added a little less than 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla. Coconut-wise, I used about 1/3 - 1/2 cup. And I baked it for about 35 minutes, but I’d encourage you to check in and make sure it’s not getting too brown. Otherwise, it’s really simple and a great one to share with friends — this was the only piece left!

Sometimes, traditions have a way of coming 'round again. Square dancing is one of those examples, at least in the Missouri Ozarks, where the tradition has seen a revitalization in recent years.

It's a far cry from early 2020, when one of its longtime leaders feared it was dying in this area. Thanks to new people and new generations, a renewed interest is helping this tradition live on — including at a new monthly square dance at the Taney Center in rural Missouri.

And while it's about the music and the dance, it's also about connection.

“The importance of having a monthly community dance cannot be overstated,” Emma Neighbour, a square dance caller, told me. “Just the friendships, the community, the togetherness — it really makes such a difference to have that monthly thing. Maybe you can’t make it every month, but you know it’s going to happen. And when you do come, everyone, they cheer when people come in and clap them on the back, and it’s like a little family reunion every month.”

Read more in my latest "Ozarks Notebook" column in the The Daily Yonder.

Square dancing circles back into Ozarks life — Ozarks Alive A new monthly dance at the Taney Center in rural Missouri is just one example of how it seems an interest in square dancing is on the rise in the Ozarks.

I have a special surprise: There's one more 2026 Rock Picking Award to announce!

This special award is different from the ones I shared last week, which were selected by a panel of judges from across the region. I didn't have any role in choosing those honorees, but as I developed this awards program, I wanted to have one award that I chose myself. The Community Champion award, I decided, would be given to someone for their work in actively building community, connecting neighbors, and celebrating Ozarks culture.

In 2026, that award goes to Marie Day.

Marie, now in her 90s, has spent most of her life dedicated to the tiny community of Chadwick, Missouri. She moved there — from not far away — when she got married in the early 1950s. Back then, the small stop along Highway 125 had more hustle and bustle than it does today, but despite those changes, Marie's commitment has endured.

She's a retired teacher who served on the local school board until just a few months ago. She has long championed Railroad Day, a celebration of the community's ties to the train. Her farm is a destination for kindergarteners each year when they go on a Christmas tree hunt. I've heard about her "history days" at the school, where she demonstrates old-time traditions. Marie grew up square dancing and gave clogging lessons for years. She is a prolific writer, has published many books on local history, and is one of few community correspondents who still submits news for the Christian County Headliner newspaper.

I met her through the Chadwick Friendship Club, a group that formed in the 1950s for neighbors to gather and support the community. She's been a member since 1954, and also quilts — spending most Mondays with some of those club members (me included) and other friends around a quilting frame at the local community center. One of the club's key focuses is maintaining that building, which is also a resource in the small town. It’s used for funeral dinners and birthday parties and other gatherings that bring people together.

I'll always remember something Marie told me one quiet Monday when just the two of us were there quilting. I asked if it made her sad that things were different from the past — back when Chadwick was a more bustling place. No, she said, but added something that has stuck with me: That what disappointed her was that people don't participate in community life today as they once did.

That's what we need: People to show up, to care, and to show they care about where they are. Just like Marie.

You can celebrate with Marie and the other 2026 honorees at the Rock Picking Party on Nov. 15. More info is in the comments.

Ozarks Pie Project #147: Caramel Pie

OK, so I cheated with the borders of the Ozarks a bit for this one.

This caramel pie comes from Kathy Williams, and was in a cookbook produced in 1998 by the Temple Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which is slightly beyond the Ozarks region's eastern edge — but I think it was worth it. Also, a shoutout goes to the Friends of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, which has a massive used book sale twice a year and is where I found this cookbook earlier this week. If you love books, look for their next sale in the spring. It's one of the best ways to feel good spending money as the funds support the library.

Now, on to the pie...

I typically try to stay as close to the original recipe as possible, at least the first time I make it, but this one I did something a bit different. I used oat milk in place of dairy, and I think it worked just fine.

There was also a question about the eggs — the recipe calls for three, but then "egg yolks" are referenced in the recipe. I don't know if there was an intention to put meringue on top and that got left out when the book was printed, or if there was another issue. I just went ahead and added three whole eggs. Next time, I would likely just use the yolks because some of the whites did cook in the filling — and even though it's fine to eat, the appearance is a bit off-putting.

I also added a little bit of whipped cream sweetened with powdered sugar to give it a bit more "finished" look. I'm a fan of the combination, but next time, I'm wondering about what the addition of a little salt might do — a salted caramel pie? I'll keep you posted!

This third weekend in September simultaneously reminds to enjoy life to the fullest and that you can’t do it all.

It’s always a big Ozarks time — Hootin an Hollarin, the long-running hillbilly vibe festival in Gainesville, begins on Thursday, the same day that the annual Ozarks Studies Symposium in West Plains typically starts. That’s not to mention other festivals and events that have become annual traditions across the region. Which, of course, is why it made perfect sense for me to plan one of Ozarks Alive’s Folk Lure Exchange last evening. (I won’t repeat that mistake again.)

So, today began with a trip to West Plains for the symposium (and a stop for Ozark ice cream at Nadine’s, the local homemade ice cream shop.) I know it’s too late for this year, but if you are an Ozarks enthusiast, I highly recommend you put this annual symposium on your schedule. It’s completely free to attend and features presenters from across the region, and has become a bit of a reunion for “Ozarks” folks over the years. If you want to get ahead of planning for next year, visit the link in the comments for more info.

Now, it’s on to Hootin an Hollarin!

Tonight is Ozarks Alive’s Folk Lure Exchange on mills, and it’s not too late to join in!

At one time, mills were extremely common in the region as they were necessary parts of life for farmers. But what I find fascinating is that they are still part of our world — just in a nostalgic way. In a way that has changed with time. An example is behind me: the Ozark Mill, which was one of the last commercial mills operating in Missouri and today is part of Finley Farms.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts about those shifts tonight as I share several unique examples you can still visit and learn from, and we’ll also hear from special guests Joe Bob and Betsy O’Neal from Topaz Mill. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Oldfield Opry building near Sparta, Missouri. Info is in the comments!

I want to share about the Ozarks Alive Cooperative for a minute...

Top-level thought: This group is so much fun!

In case you haven't heard about it, the OAC is a group of folks who give a few dollars a month to support Ozarks Alive's work. As part of that gift, they receive a special monthly newsletter from me, as well as inclusion in special "field trips" and events. One of those gatherings was last night, when I gave a virtual presentation about the history of the Bald Knobbers. In October, we're going to the award-winning Gray Campbell Farmstead in Springfield to learn more about the collection of historic structures from volunteers.

I so appreciate the group's support of Ozarks Alive, but also love the fact that this feels like a community. And I'm grateful for the many people who are members simply because they want to support this work.

If you'd like to join, I'll include a link in the comments. You can cancel anytime, so it's not a big commitment, but does make a difference for Ozarks Alive's regional coverage — and is greatly appreciated.

Show caves — developed for tourists — have been part of the Ozarks for more than a century. I've written about a few of them over the years, but focus on Crystal Cave and Fantastic Caverns in Greene County for the latest episode of "Ozarks Scrapbook," a monthly story series I produce on KSMU - Ozarks Public Radio.

An interesting takeaway: Years ago, caves were fierce competitors. But several decades ago, some decided that they were all unique and therefore should collaborate in helping promote each other.

Thanks to Missouri Humanities for funding the creation of this series. You can hear the episode via the link in the comments.