Country April - May 2017

“HEY, MAMA, LOOK what I’m doing for the earth,” my son says, digging into the dirt with a toy shovel. He’s pretty serious as he plants an imaginary garden with rows of carrots. I love his optimism. This little boy is so amped up for springtime and new beginnings. Here at Country we’ve caught the fever for new beginnings, too. This is our 30th anniversary year, and we’re celebrating by giving the magazine a new look that will make your heartfelt stories easier and more enjoyable to read. And per your suggestions, we’ve added more photos and more content about life in the country. Here’s a preview of what’s new. ♦ The Country Almanac is a calendar chock-full of useful information, including time- and money-saving tips and events. Start planning…

Enter the Our Country Home Contest and you could win $500! Submit at least six photos of your home (high-resolution JPEG files, please) along with a 500-word essay explaining why it’s the best place in the country. Here are the four categories: 1. Gardens 2. Interiors 3. The View 4. Farmland The grand prize is $500, but there are more ways to win! The first-, second- and third-prize winners will receive $250, $150 and $100, respectively. Here’s how to enter: 1. Go to country-magazine.com/contests and click on the link. 2. Fill out the submission form and upload your photos and essay. 3. Click Submit. 4. To enter another category, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3. The contest ends July 7. For complete rules go to country-magazine.com /contests.…

We rely on readers to tell us what’s going on in rural America. There’s a lot to say about the beauty and values of the country. That’s why we’re bringing back volunteer Field Editors. What does a volunteer Field Editor do? Submit gorgeous photos and heartfelt, true stories. Share insights about the country way of life. Get active in online conversations. Share and comment on stories and photos on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Spread the word. Get friends, family and neighbors involved with Country. Here’s what you’ll get as a thank-you for your time: • A free subscription to Country • Occasional books and other products as they are available • Our enthusiastic gratitude—we love our Field Editors! How to apply: For more details and to apply, go to…

AMERICAN PRIDE From American flags to fireworks and Fourth of July parades, capture and share the spirit of America in your best patriotic photos. Make sure to include details about when and where you took the photo and why you are proud to call this big, beautiful country your home. VIEW FROM OUR PLACE Fresh air, friendly folks and wide-open spaces make life in the country so rewarding. Country celebrates good values and simple pleasures. Tell us why roots in the land matter your family, and send photos of the beauty in your neck of the woods. MAKE US LAUGH Country life produces more than its fair share of sidesplitting moments. Here at Country and Country Extra, we love nothing more than a good laugh. Share your silliest stories and…

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE STARS An ancient pine tree in Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains National Refuge appears otherworldly beneath the stars. During International Dark Sky Week (April 22-28), venture from the artificial light and look up at the heavens. Learn more at darksky.org . Starry Night I’ve experienced the Grand Canyon, slept huddled between mountains in Alaska, watched the sea rush to shore in California and traveled loop-to-loop trails in the forested hills of Tennessee. But my most remarkable experience with nature happened at 12 years old, when I ventured down a long lane late in the evening. After supper, I left the house in search of a breeze. Noticing that the trees seemed to be swaying around the perimeter of the grove, I…

Yellows of Spring THERE IT IS, nestled deep in the fresh new grasses of the warming earth—a bright dandelion, the first one I see this sunny, warm spring day. It is such a joy to spot that first yellow blossom after a long, cold winter. The color alone makes me smile. So many joys of long ago flash into my mind as I look at it, seeing its narrow petals pointing out and upward in every direction. Its long green leaves still look as if it needs to hang onto the ground. The leaves also point outward as if trying to reach something still farther away. Memories from childhood come back to me—finding the first yellow flower of spring and running home to tell my mother. I felt so proud…