On The Move

The photo above is me riding in my uncle’s pickup truck as we bounce through what my family calls the East pasture. (Side note: if someone could bottle the smell of this pasture after a summer rain, I’d happily pay luxury perfume prices.)

My mother’s family has been ranching in Nebraska for four generations. My grandfather raised about 120 head of cattle. Today, my cousin manages more than 550. Like any business, ranching has had to evolve. Market forces demand growth, technology drives efficiency, and the entrepreneurs who adapt survive. Yes… I can talk both curb appeal and cattle!

The Fourth is celebrated in Stuart, population 550, where it feels like 80% of the town turns out for everything. There’s a parade of vintage cars, floats, ginormous tractors, a rodeo, duck races, and, of course, fireworks launched from just about every backyard. My favorite this year? The one that launched hundreds of tiny parachutes into the sky that had kids sprinting across the lawn to catch them.

Cities celebrate ambition. Small towns celebrate community. Neither has a monopoly on innovation, hard work, or entrepreneurship. But one thing small towns seem to do exceptionally well is remember what they’re building it all for.

After every visit, I come home with a fresh appreciation for both worlds, and convinced that each could borrow a little something from the other.

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.