Rural entrepreneurs, resilient communities, sustainable prosperity
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES
Forging Ahead
In the face of political whiplash, halted contracts, and months of federal uncertainty, WSBZ Farms is celebrating a long-awaited win. The family-run farm, located just south of Little Rock on the border of Wrightsville, has…
Planting Seeds of Hope
At just 15 years old, Quinn Childress was living on Willow Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, after being kicked out of his home. A local family took him in — and gave him more than just a roof over his head. They handed him…
Curated and Confident
When Ashley Gallon planned her own wedding in just six months — stress-free and fully designed by her — it confirmed something she had long suspected: she had a gift for creating memorable experiences. That…
Growth Through Infrastructure
Tucked along U.S. Highway 412 at the western edge of Paragould, in the heart of Greene County in Northeast Arkansas, Crowley’s Ridge College (CRC) is a small but steadily growing Christian liberal arts institution. Founded…
Water Reborn
The Wright-Pastoria Water Association, which served more than 500 customers across the rural Arkansas Delta communities of Wright, Pastoria, Tucker, and Sherrill, has completed a multi-year regionalization effort that now…
Smart Surge
Since partnering with Communities Unlimited (CU), Brittany Scott, founder of SMART Reproduction in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has been on a mission to scale — and the results speak for themselves. Her company collects, freezes,…
Thrive or Struggle
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, running a small business can feel like an endless juggling act. Between managing operations, keeping customers happy, handling finances, and staying ahead of the competition, it’s…
Beacon in the Backroads
Dr. Stephanie Mueller grew up in a small farm town in Southern Illinois, where she developed an early passion for healthy living. She earned her degree in Biological Science at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she…
Back from the Brink
When Elizabeth Yvette Jagneaux stepped into her role at the Reddell Vidrine Water District (RVWD) in Ville Platte, located in south-central Louisiana’s Evangeline Parish, the system was in chaos. Hired with just a day’s…
Leveled Up
Davis Vernon came from humble beginnings. Growing up, he didn’t have much, but when he was finally able to save enough to buy his first gaming system, a whole new world opened. Video gaming became a safe and engaging outlet…
Turning the Corner in Annona
When Marcella Dean took office as mayor of Annona — a small town in Red River County in northeast Texas — in late 2023, she stepped into a whirlwind. The town’s water system was unreliable. The sewer system had been…
Building a Community of Gamers
In the rural town of Gosnell, Arkansas — located in Mississippi County near the northeastern corner of the state, just outside Blytheville — Tachmonite Butler is on a mission to bring something different to his community: a…
Field Support
What started as a backyard garden rooted in family tradition has blossomed into a small farm business providing fresh produce year-round to rural Louisiana communities. Derek Moore, owner of Moorehill Farm and Garden in the…
Forging Ahead
In the face of political whiplash, halted contracts, and months of federal uncertainty, WSBZ Farms is celebrating a long-awaited win. The family-run farm, located just south of Little Rock on the border of Wrightsville, has…
Planting Seeds of Hope
At just 15 years old, Quinn Childress was living on Willow Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, after being kicked out of his home. A local family took him in — and gave him more than just a roof over his head. They handed him…
Curated and Confident
When Ashley Gallon planned her own wedding in just six months — stress-free and fully designed by her — it confirmed something she had long suspected: she had a gift for creating memorable experiences. That…
Growth Through Infrastructure
Tucked along U.S. Highway 412 at the western edge of Paragould, in the heart of Greene County in Northeast Arkansas, Crowley’s Ridge College (CRC) is a small but steadily growing Christian liberal arts institution. Founded…
Water Reborn
The Wright-Pastoria Water Association, which served more than 500 customers across the rural Arkansas Delta communities of Wright, Pastoria, Tucker, and Sherrill, has completed a multi-year regionalization effort that now…
Smart Surge
Since partnering with Communities Unlimited (CU), Brittany Scott, founder of SMART Reproduction in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has been on a mission to scale — and the results speak for themselves. Her company collects, freezes,…
Thrive or Struggle
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, running a small business can feel like an endless juggling act. Between managing operations, keeping customers happy, handling finances, and staying ahead of the competition, it’s…
Beacon in the Backroads
Dr. Stephanie Mueller grew up in a small farm town in Southern Illinois, where she developed an early passion for healthy living. She earned her degree in Biological Science at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she…
Back from the Brink
When Elizabeth Yvette Jagneaux stepped into her role at the Reddell Vidrine Water District (RVWD) in Ville Platte, located in south-central Louisiana’s Evangeline Parish, the system was in chaos. Hired with just a day’s…
Leveled Up
Davis Vernon came from humble beginnings. Growing up, he didn’t have much, but when he was finally able to save enough to buy his first gaming system, a whole new world opened. Video gaming became a safe and engaging outlet…
Turning the Corner in Annona
When Marcella Dean took office as mayor of Annona — a small town in Red River County in northeast Texas — in late 2023, she stepped into a whirlwind. The town’s water system was unreliable. The sewer system had been…
