Sara Schafer

1 month ago | ruralmissouri.org | Sara Schafer

by Sara Schafer|[email protected] | photos by Sara Schafer and Mike SutherlandYou don’t just walk the Ozark Trail — you wander into another world. Moss cushions your steps on rocks as sunlight flickers through the canopy. Blooms of wildflowers burst across the hills while streams sparkle and gurgle in the distance. With more than 430 miles of mostly connected trails, the Ozark Trail immerses visitors in some of the most secluded and wild landscapes in Missouri.

1 month ago | ruralmissouri.org | Sara Schafer

by Sara Schafer|[email protected] if you’re not from Knob Noster, you’ll feel right at home at Olde Town South. The menu is full of classics with modern twists, the atmosphere is welcoming, the bar menu is extensive and the staff is full of smiles. Olde Town South is a relatively new player in the Knob Noster scene, a community of around 3,000 residents that’s also home to Whiteman Air Force Base.

1 month ago | ruralmissouri.org | Sara Schafer |Ricki Spargo

by Sara Schafer|[email protected] into the rolling river hills outside Jamestown, Happy Hollow Farm is a tiny farm with a mighty footprint. Beneath the arches of high tunnels, tender leafy greens thrive; in the fields, team members pluck ripe strawberries; and rainbow rows of flowers sway in the breeze. Watching over it all is Liz Graznak, a farmer with big ideas and dirt under her nails. Liz is always in motion.

2 months ago | ruralmissouri.org | Sara Schafer

by Sara Schafer|[email protected] shelves explode with color — rows of artillery shells, sparklers, smoke bombs, parachutes and fountains are waiting for a match and the ultimate small-town celebration. American flags, streamers and hand-drawn signs spackle nearly every inch of wall space. Amid the fireworks stand’s sensory overload, smooth jazz hums through the speakers. Each armed with brushes and paints, two brothers create magic on canvas.

2 months ago | ruralmissouri.org | Sara Schafer

by Sara Schafer|[email protected], rumble, rumble … boom! “Ahhhhh!” screams Cat, as he watches the thunderstorm rage outside and his house turns dark. “We’re doomed!”“Don’t worry, our electric cooperative will have the power back on very soon,” said Duck. “What’s an electric cooperative?” asked Cat.