Columnists

Don’t you love this time of year. More sun. Warmer weather. The trees and bushes are coming alive. Flowers blooming. All of a sudden the mundane of the winter turns to a beautiful array of smells and colors. This amazing time of year also reminds me of our children one by one graduating from something,…

The interview took place on a beautiful September afternoon in 2001 at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. If you have never been there, The Greenbrier feels less like a resort and more like a piece of American history tucked into the mountains. Golf has been part of that history for generations, and…

I learned years ago when I took oer the newspaper publishing role from my father that writing is an activity best done with a fresh mind. I observed that I could hammer out a story with few problems or pauses if I got to work on it in the morning, but by evening my thoughts…

Going to the grocery store used to be a big deal, probably because it usually happened on Saturday night, and Saturday night meant a trip to Maryville with Mom, Dad, and my brother Joe. The evening started with supper and ended at the grocery store. Shopping often turned into a divide-and-conquer operation. Mom carried the…

A few days ago, I heard a pundit on a talk show panel playfully suggest that politicians enjoy bringing up mindless issues in an effort to distract the electorate from focusing upon how ineffectual their policies have proven to be. Why talk about the economy when you can take the lazy, yet more effective path…

Each spring, farm broadcasters from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C., for our annual meeting. For those covering agriculture policy, the schedule was equal parts education and exhaustion. Days began early, ended late, filled with briefings from commodity leaders, USDA officials, and members of Congress whose decisions shaped the future of rural America. That…

This weather has been a deal lately, hasn’t it? Hot, cold, hot, cold. I would make a joke about a menopausal woman here if I thought it would be funny. I adore summer so I have enjoyed the unseasonably warm temperatures. I love seeing my daffodils and tulips bloom (even if the tulips are a…

There’s a guy on the radio who makes millions of dollars a year just by telling people not to spend more money than they have. When you consider the times in which we are living, just remember that fact. Not only that, but by act of our state legislature, every Missouri student has to take…

“Traditions are the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.” – Unknown I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter filled with joy, love, and the kind of sweet memories that linger for a lifetime. As someone who cherishes holidays, family and making memories, Easter holds a special place in my heart. From decorating the…

Opening Day has always felt like a second New Year’s Day for baseball fans. It arrives with hope, fresh grass, clean uniforms, and the quiet belief this might finally be the year everything comes together. Every year when Opening Day rolls around, I think about the spring when I spent a few days traveling the…