Country October/November 2019

WHEN THE MOUNTAINS CALLED four years ago, the Spencer family answered. That’s when the winners of Country’s first View from Our Place Contest moved to Montana. John and Monica Spencer dreamed of living out west and wanted to give their kids a childhood with the freedom to roam, and the chance to live in harmony with the land and grow up with the values of small-town America. And the move was an opportunity for Monica, an amateur photographer, to focus her lens on the wide-open spaces all around them. You’ll see her photos and read more about the family on page 22. Amber Mitchell is another reader who chased her dreams. Almost 30 years after a photo of an idyllic farm surrounded by glorious fall foliage captured her imagination, Amber…

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. 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 by sharing on your Facebook page. Here’s what you’ll get as a thank-you for your time: • A free subscription to Country magazine• 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 country-magazine.com and fill…

My husband, Ron, and I were surprised when we saw the Mystery Photo in the June/July issue. We had just been to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse on May 6. We enjoyed this visit and took quite a few pictures, including this one. We had taken a tour of all of the northeastern states, and our tour guide was the old Country Discoveries magazine you used to print. CAROLYN JAVAUX Middleton, Idaho SHORTLY AFTER WE WED 51 years ago, I talked my husband into getting a calico kitten we named Penny. Reading Connie Thompson’s story “Pick Extra for Daisy” (June/July, page 64) put a big smile on my face. Like Daisy, Penny loved to eat sweet corn! Once, I came home from work to find that my husband and mom had left sticky corn…

All Aboard! One year, I spotted a steam locomotive taking passengers across a high trestle bridge during a fall color tour of Boone County in central Iowa. Pairing the season’s foliage with the train and its billowing steam was a match made in heaven for this photographer! Because the steam locomotive is due for a costly inspection, it isn’t running this fall. The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, based in Boone, is trying to raise funds to pay for it. If you would like to help save this piece of history, visit bsvrr.com for more information. You can still catch a ride on one of the railroad’s electric or diesel train tours for a thrilling and scenic view of Iowa’s striking fall colors. Ankeny, Iowa…

AS I WALKED DOWN to the pasture to help my dad with some chores on an early foggy morning in October, I stopped to watch him walk through the gate. Dad paused for a minute so I could snap this photo of him. I was raised on this farm and have stood in front of this gate many times, but I never really stopped to enjoy the beauty or the company until this morning. My parents, Ted and Louella Neptune, were married for 56 years and farmed this land together until Mom passed away. Growing up here and working with my family every day taught me about responsibility and respect. When it is time for baling hay, picking corn, combining oats, tending cattle or doing daily chores, we work together…

ONE LUMP OR TWO? Briley, 6, serves a spot of “tea” to Meghan, 4, who isn’t impressed with the bug she found in her cup. KIRSTEN BERGER Friendship, Wisconsin PUMPKIN PICKERS My husband’s brother plants pumpkins at our farm every year, and he always needs help harvesting. Our crew usually consists of the adults and quite a few grandchildren. DAWN GREEN Grand Mound, Iowa Thanksgiving Grace IN OUR FAMILY, Thanksgiving dinner wasn’t dinner at all. It was preparing a lunch that was served at 1 p.m. to accommodate plans arranged with other families. Thanksgiving morning felt more like working a lunch rush at the local diner than a day of reflection and gratitude—until the year we declined an invitation from the standard crowd and hosted out-of-town guests. For our visitors,…