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Of Your Dreams THE FALL GETAWAY
Crisp weather. Luxury amenities. High-end accommodations.
FOUNDER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Peder von Harten
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Todd Malone
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Abby Carlton
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Peder von Harten, Abby Carlton, Rebekah Iliff, Edgar Castillo, Kelsi McKee, Robin Young
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Dean Ricciardi, Andrew Perilloux, Titus Wincentsen, Courtney Cook, Edwin Compton
NATIONAL SALES
Tonie Ellis at tonieellismedia@gmail.com
Chris McIntosh at chris@piperranchmedia.com or advertising@porchprairiemag.com
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Porch + Prairie is published four times a year by Flying V Media, LLC DBA Piper Ranch Media, Oxford, MS 38655. Subscriptions are for one and two years (4 issues per year),
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SportHunter® 1225x
21 LEVELS I 3/4 MILE I DRYTEK® WATERPROOF EXPANDABLE TO 3 DOGS
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Peder von Harten - Editor-in-Chief
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Spring, and thus, the Spring Issue of Porch + Prairie Magazine. I will say, candidly I have never been much of a fan of Spring, but this year feels different. So much on the horizon for our magazine and as we enter into another election cycle, for our country overall. Our magazine has always kept a reflective eye on the past and tried to remind our readers of the things from yesteryear that we should never let fade from memory. There is something special about nostalgia and I like to think that our magazine helps our readers take the time to sit back, think of how things used to be, and smile.
If we’ve done our job right, you’re smiling right now just thinking about it.
The past 12 months have been a bit of a whirlwind and I’ll say that one of the best parts of this role is getting introduced to new folks along the way. I enjoy the email introductions from friends, the story ideas that are sent in by our readers, or even when someone featured in our pages previously says, “hey, I want you to meet someone that I think is great for P+P.” The kind of engagement we see is really humbling and I can’t thank each of you who’ve reached out enough. After all, this magazine and this brand is supposed to speak to you and be a welcome sight in the mailbox or on the news stands every quarter.
As you read this issue of Porch + Prairie, I invite you to make special note of the accomplishments of those we have elected to feature. They are a mix of old friends and new friends, but their stories and their passion for their craft is evident from the first word. They are the interviews that I wish I could write fifty pages about. I wish everyone shared the passion for their work like Jay Stine, whose conservation work will be felt for generations to come. I wish there were more people like Katie Pavlich, who uses her voice and her platform each day not just to push our country in a better direction, but who also devotes her time toward honoring the past. These are the type of people who inspire others around them to take part in a cause or take the steps to better our collective futures. The word “legacy” is often used in Porch + Prairie, and we are continually proud to feature those like Jay and Katie who work tirelessly to ensure their legacy is secure well into the decades to come.
As we make the turn into the longer days and warmer season ahead, I want you to think of your own legacy and your own bit of nostalgia. How will you be remembered? What steps are you taking to create a better life for your family, or even for complete strangers? What of the past do you want to ensure remains a part of our great future? Those answers lie within each of us, and I hope they too will someday be featured here in Porch + Prairie.
With great appreciation, PvH
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CONTRIBUTORS
Kevin Martone balances a busy professional life with his passion for the outdoors. A nationally recognized expert in mental health and the Executive Director of a national non-profit, Kevin’s business travels enable him to enjoy the local culture and landscape in states throughout America. From Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, to New England and across the South, Kevin creates opportunities in the outdoors whenever and wherever he can. Kevin spends his personal time hunting, fishing, trail running, and enjoying sunsets with his wife, Sasha, on the dock of their family pond.
Abby Carlton was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, where her and her family never shied away from a road trip or flight to a new city. She loves exploring new places she’s never been before and creating traditions around spots worth returning back to. Whether it’s making someone smile or laugh, or spending a little time out of her day helping others out, Abby is always appreciating the little things that help her choose joy each day. Abby currently lives in Oxford, Mississippi and enjoys traveling to visit her family on the Mississippi Coast and back in Louisiana, which will always be home.
Kelsi McKee has been writing poetry and stories since she was old enough to scratch words on paper. She completed her first novel when she was 18 and continues to write while balancing a full-time job in the news industry. Originally from Northwest and a graduate of Texas A&M, Kelsi has enjoyed adventuring across the country and making her way to her current home in South Carolina. Away from pen and paper, Kelsi enjoys her time on the golf course and of course, cheering on her Aggies.
Rebekah Iliff is an award-winning humor writer, author, and entrepreneur raised in the midwest living in the south. She has a knack for turning difficult topics into digestible stories and loves giving people the unexpected laugh. Her work has been featured in publications ranging from Fast Company and Forbes to Weekly Humorist and the Erma Bombeck Blog. She released her first book, Champagne for One, in February 2022. Rebekah’s favorite part of the day is sitting on the back stoop, watching the sunset with her husband and pup.
Personal website: rebekahiliff.com
IG: @rebekahiliffweaver
Book website: ChampageforOne.com
Robin Young is a senior pre-law student at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS, majoring in Criminal Justice with minors in Psychology and Intelligence and Security Studies. She is an adventure-lover at heart with a passion for the outdoors and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. In her free time, you can find Robin spending time with her dogs or her two horses named Izak and Too, hiking in a new city, playing the acoustic guitar, or at the gym. Robin is an active member of the Chi Chapter of Delta Delta Delta and the Ole Miss Equestrian Team.
Edgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for twelve years. Edgar was born in Guatemala, and when his family came to the U.S., his father, a new bird hunter himself, would take Edgar afield in search of roosters and bobs. Edgar’s passion lies in the uplands as he self-documents his travels across public lands throughout Kansas and the U.S., hunting open fields and prairies, walking treelines, & bustin’ through plum thickets, in a never-ending chase to hunt wild birds in wild places.
You can follow his adventures on Instagram at @hunt_birdz
Beka Garbutt is southern born and raised and currently resides in northeast Mississippi. She loves a good view of nature whether from the top of a mountain after a hike or simply admiring the sunset from the front porch. Travel usually takes her to visit family in an effort to maintain her “cool aunt” status with her growing number of nieces and nephews. She believes laughter is the best medicine and is happiest when surrounded by those she loves.
AGAINST ALL ODDS: A
TRUE STORY OF ULTIMATE COURAGE AND SURVIVAL IN WORLD WAR II
by Alex Kershaw
As the Allies raced to defeat Hitler, four men, all in the same unit, earned medal after medal for battlefield heroism. Maurice “Footsie” Britt, a former professional football player, became the very first American to receive every award for valor in a single war. Michael Daly was a West Point dropout who risked his neck over and over to keep his men alive. Keith Ware would one day become the first and only draftee in history to attain the rank of general before serving in Vietnam. In WWII, Ware owed his life to the finest soldier he ever commanded, a baby-faced Texan named Audie Murphy. In the campaign to liberate Europe, each would gain the ultimate accolade, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Tapping into personal interviews and a wealth of primary source material, Alex Kershaw has delivered his most gripping account yet of American courage, spanning more than six hundred days of increasingly merciless combat, from the deserts of North Africa to the dark heart of Nazi Germany. Once the guns fell silent, these four exceptional warriors would discover just how heavy the Medal of Honor could be—and how great the expectations associated with it. Having survived against all odds, who among them would finally find peace?
Dutton Caliber
SpringReads
OTHER PAGES TO PERUSE
FREEDOM:
THE ENDURING IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
by Jack D. Warren Jr.
Published under the auspices of the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, Freedom: The Enduring Importance of the American Revolution is a narrative history of the War for Independence. It tells the pivotal story of the courageous men and women who risked their lives to create a new nation based on the idea that government should serve people and protect their freedom. Written for Americans intent on understanding our national origins, but also appropriate for teachers and secondary classrooms, Freedom argues that the American Revolution is the central event in our history: the turning point between our colonial origins and our national experience. This volume includes 167 full-color paintings, maps, illustrations, and photos—many of them seen only in historical institutions across the country!
The Freedom narrative spans from the American Revolution’s origins in the nature of colonial British America—a society in which freedom was limited and in which everyone was the subject of a distant monarch— through the crisis in the British Empire that followed the French and Indian War, to the events of the War for Independence itself, and ultimately to the creation of the first great republic in modern history. This is the story of how Americans came to fight for their freedom and became a united people, with a shared history and national identity, and how a generation of founders expressed ideals of liberty, equality, natural and civil rights, and responsible citizenship: ideals that have shaped our history and will shape our future—and the future of the world.
Lyons Press
WHY WE LOVE BASEBALL: A HISTORY IN 50 MOMENTS
by Joe Posnanski
Posnanski writes of major moments that created legends, and of forgotten moments almost lost to time. It's Willie Mays’s catch, Babe Ruth’s called shot, and Kirk Gibson’s limping home run; the slickest steals; the biggest bombs; and the most triumphant no-hitters. But these are also moments raw with the humanity of the game, the unheralded heroes, the mesmerizing mistakes drenched in pine tar, and every story, from the immortal to the obscure, is told from a unique perspective. Whether of a real fan who witnessed it, or the pitcher who gave up the home run, the umpire, the coach, the opposing player—these are fresh takes on moments so powerful they almost feel like myth.
Posnanski’s previous book, The Baseball 100, portrayed the heroes and pioneers of the sport, and now, with his trademark wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and acute observations, he gets at the real heart of the game. From nineteenth-century pitchers’ duels to breaking the sport’s color line in the ’40s, all the way to the greatest trick play of the last decade and the slide home that became a meme, Posnanski’s illuminating take allows us to rediscover the sport we love—and thought we knew.
Why We Love Baseball is an epic that ends too soon, a one-of-a-kind love letter to the sport that has us thrilled, torn, inspired, and always wanting more.
Dutton
Front Steps
by Abby Carlton
Change of Scenery
As a longtime lover of routine and creature of habit, I’m finding myself in a season where I feel a need for a fresh, new outlook on life happening around me. I have always thrived most on regimen, and I believe I always will, but what if a new point of view coming from my own eyes, is the best way to get to where I’m going? While I don’t necessarily know what I want to be when I ‘grow up’ or even who I want to be exactly, I’m learning daily how to get there. All while building out the best version of myself. At the very least, a change of scenery, even for a short time, might help me see my current setting differently.
Recently, traveling has been exactly what the doctor ordered for a small change of scenery. Whether I’m road tripping to visit family where I’ve been hundreds of times before, or flying to a new city to explore, getting out of my self-created routine has given me the opportunity to enjoy, and really soak in, the beauty of the world around us. There is so much goodness in life, small things and big ones, that I try my best to find joy in daily—A coffee shop with an iced coffee that fills my soul; music that somehow relates to exactly what I’m going through in that moment; a book that pulls you in so quickly, you find a quick escape from the real world; a sunset you know even the newest iPhone camera couldn’t capture the way your eyes are seeing it right now. Physically or mentally, changing your place in life can shift your energy, ultimately growing our comfort zone we live in.
Ultimately, the part of me that shines when I feel comfortable, in a good groove or routine, wonders if there isn’t a much larger development happening inside of me. I have built such a perfect life for myself that I’ve been blessed to love and continue to enjoy, but rather than only changing small increments of my day, I feel joyful thinking about the future as well. Knowing that I have the
power over my own self and daily procedures to develop new ones, gives me the courage to do just that. I don’t need permission from anyone, and neither do you. Find what brings you joy, and choose just that. You have the power, too.
It doesn’t matter how far we travel, but more important, is the act of switching up the mun-dane parts of your life and routine that adds the positive boost in our emotions. I, ironically, came across a quote recently that resonated with what I am going through, and I want to share it with you: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you different-ly, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
– Terry Prachett
All this to say, if you’re stuck on a hamster wheel with me right now, there is a new outlook on the horizon for us all. Adding variety into our daily practice, and changing the scenery around you a little bit at a time, can clear our minds, boost our moods, and maybe even spark some creativity we might have lost along the way—Just me? Ask yourself today, “What can I do differently?” and see what answer brings you the best change of scenery, then take everything you learn back with you too. Whether it’s for a short time frame, allowing you to bring back what you’ve learned to better your current self, or something that helps you make that long-term change, take that new scenery and let it speak to you in ways you’ve never allowed it to before.
xoxo,Abby
Photo by Titus Wincentsen
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Photos courtesty of The Wild Animal Sanctuary
“With over 33,000 acres of sanctuary lands within Colorado and Texas, The Wild Animal Sanctuary based in Keenesburg, Colorado is an incredible experience that travelers simply cannot miss. It’s not only a place to spot big cats but is also an organization that is thoroughly invested in saving endangered species that have become victims of the captive-wildlife-crisis. Traveling around the world and operating with a mission of saving animals from less-than-ideal situations, the Sanctuary specializes in rescuing and rehabilitating lions, tigers, bears, wolves, mustangs and dozens of other incredibly majestic species - as well as providing them with massive natural habitats to live in for the rest of their natural lives.
IT’S THE WORLD’S LARGEST SANCTUARY FOR CARNIVORES.
With more than 1000 rescued animals roaming large-acreage, natural habitats, The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a must-see for animal lovers. The sanctuary is the oldest and largest accredited wild animal sanctuary in the world, having been in operation for more than 44 years and rescuing thousands of animals from horrific circumstances. Operating four unique facilities, each with its own collection of rescued and rehabilitated wildlife, the Sanctuary specializes in providing animals with incredibly large natural habitats where they gain exceptional freedom. The Sanctuary’s main facility is located just 35 miles outside of Denver, Colorado and is open to visitors wishing to learn more about the organization’s mission, as well as being able to view animals living in natural settings.
YOU’LL GET A UNIQUE LOOK AT A FASCINATING VARIETY OF ANIMALS.
The Sanctuary is host to animals from all different backgrounds including coyotes, jaguars, mountain lions, leopards, wild mustangs and more. Over the course of the sanctuary’s history, they’ve rescued thousands of animals from illegal or abusive situations. More than 550 animals currently live at the Keenesburg facility, including nearly 100 of the “Tiger King” tigers, as well as African lions rescued from zoos that were being bombed within the Ukraine/Russian war and many other challenging or hostile locations around the world.
WALKING “A MILE INTO THE WILD” IS A CAN’TMISS EXPERIENCE.
The Sanctuary’s main facility in Keenesburg features an elevated walkway that spans across numerous animal habitats in order to provide a fantastic view for visitors, while also ensuring the animals remain comfortable and unbothered by human presence. At 1.51 miles in length, the walkway even holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest footbridge. Many guests visit in the summer for Wild Nights — which is a magical time in the evening when the sun starts to set and the animals become particularly active. Packs of wolves begin howling in competition with the many prides of lions that roar - all of which features a majestic backdrop highlighted by the incredibly majestic Rocky Mountains.
Of Coveys and Conservation: Jay Stine's Work to Protect a Texas Tradition
Each Spring, the campus at Dallas’ Southern Methodist University watches as the annual Park Cities Quail Coalition dinner is held in the school’s indoor football facility known as Armstrong Fieldhouse. Onlookers watch scores of folks emerge from their cars, greet one another, and head inside dressed in clothes that range from Sunday’s best to outdoor chic. As the head in, guests are excited about their place and part in what is affectionately, and aptly dubbed, “Conservation’s Greatest Night.”
At the helm of Quail Coalition is Executive Director, Jay Stine, who from the moment you engage with him, showcases the level of passion and energy that he brings to his organization each day. It is Jay’s vision, along with the support of a strong team behind him, that allows the grand title of Conservation’s Greatest Night to ring true. Stine’s vision for Quail Coalition and more importantly, his execution on that vision, helps preserve quail hunting and habitat opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people he may never meet. His efforts to provide funding for necessary research and enrichment programs reach every corner of the quail hunting community from upstart programs, to established university projects, and into the small rural communities where great numbers of quail call home. Even more, these initiatives have a wider range of impact beyond just the state of Texas, but rather impact the greater quail hunting community in the red dirt states and into the southeast quail havens of South Carolina and Georgia. To say the
least, the work that Quail Coalition is able to do is possibly because of Stine’s leadership, guidance, and passion for his work.
If you’ve never been, the annual Park Cities event is a must-circle on the calendar and one that must be circled early. The event’s popularity finds it sold out year after year after year, and for great reason. The who’s who of the hunting community of Dallas, in politics, and celebrities show up each year to be a part of the event. The live auction, a key portion to generating the needed research dollars for Quail Coalition’s initiatives, brings a lively atmosphere once the bidding cards start rolling. The keynote speeches, given by the current year’s winner of the prestigious T. Boone Pickens Award, are always captivating and tell the stories of great hunts and camaraderie that all in attendance can appreciate. Past winners of the Award range from the legendary quail hunter and National Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Famer Bubba Wood to celebrities like Kevin Costner and the iconic (King) George Strait, all of whom keep the crowd in awe when describing what hunting, specifically quail hunting, means to them and their successes and relationships in life.
Ever the busy man and looking ahead to the new venture to preserve the legacy of quail hunting, Jay graciously took a few moments to catch up with Porch + Prairie and talk about his work, its meaning, and the wonderful work being done by Quail Coalition every day.
Photos courtesy of Jay Stine
Pavlich, the Patriot
Photos courtesy of Katie Pavlich
It’s no secret that each year, we become further and further detached from the stories of the past. School boards, worried about the potential impact of teaching our history to another set of students, continuously put limits on what parts of American history can be shown. Stories of how our country was forged and protected, censored because the details might be too much to bear for some portions of the population, might never give future generations the full picture of the bravery of the men and women who have defended us for nearly 250 years. It’s not right, it never will be, and collectively, we should show great pride that there are those willing to stand up and say it.
Admittedly, there are some pieces of our history that at times were unsavory, but even those stories need to be shared. As the old adage says, “those who forget their past are condemned to repeat it” and in the past 15-20 years, that seemingly has proven true. Taking important pieces of history out of the schools means that as we continue to engage is a social war at home and a potential military conflict on a global scale, a relative few will see the roadmap that has led us out of those challenges in the past. Within those stories
of conflict and discord and anarchy are also the stories of courage, bravery, leadership, conviction, humanity, and triumph. World War II, for all the atrocity that it is known for, showcased how our country stepped up to help defend its al-lies overseas and how as a military, we answered the call for help thousands of miles away from our friendly shores.
One of those great Americans is Katie Pavlich, a native of Arizona, a world-traveler, an incredibly smart and educated woman, and perhaps above all, a woman who wants to ensure that we all keep the spirit and history of our country intact at all levels. By way of her family legacy, her travels, and her profession, she speaks passionately about the dangers of forgetting our past. For Pavlich, she has been to Normandy and stood hand in hand with the men who stormed the beaches. She has seen first-hand the impact that our men and women in the services have had on protecting not just our people, but many other nations around the world during their time of need. Such moments are lifechanging, but Pavlich has made it part of her life’s work to ensure the memory of those men and their contributions to our society is never forgotten.
Diaries of a Stage Dog Mom
Loyal to a fault, one pup’s love remains long after the final cut
By: Rebekah Iliff
By the time the filming finally began at 4p.m. I could see that Chai was sleepy from the bevy of strangers surrounding him and ready for his pre-dinner snooze. Instead, baited by a pocketful of beef tenderloin dog training treats, he obediently followed me down the road where the first shot of the day was set and ready to go. We nestled under a small makeshift tent to avoid the sporadic summer rain showers, along with others from the production crew and record label.
The only thing missing was Luke Bryan.
Chai despised the rain more than he wanted to be a country music video star and looked up at me pleadingly with his golden eyes—the very ones that were going to make him famous someday. Apologetically, I bent down to give him a little scratch, fed him another treat, and reminded him that sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the people we love. Also, unbeknownst to him, he was getting paid a $200 appearance fee; the entire scenario would be a story my husband and I could tell until the end of time, long after our beloved pup was gone. Just thinking about it, let alone recounting the tale one detail at a time, would bring us immense joy.
“Do you remember the time Chai played a starring role in that Luke Bryan music video?” I would say, knowing that of course— unless he was suffering from the early stages of dementia—my husband would recall perfectly.
“Oh yes! What was that song? Something about beer? Or was it whiskey?” He would pretend to forget the title, then I could deliver the punchline.
“Beer in My Hand! Or shall we say, Beer in My Paw?”
I would shout this line loudly so that everyone in the nursing home dining room could hear and laugh at the joke; then I would raise an imaginary glass to the sky and my husband would join.
“To Chai,” we would say in unison. Everyone would clap and cheer, even the nurses as they wheeled us back to our cozy room for the nightly news.
By now, Chai was accustomed to being on camera, and this music video filming was not his first. Weeks earlier, he sat stoically on his favorite dog bed while an actress flowed through yoga poses in front
Moskos on the Mound
A Ballplayer’s Journey Across the Country and Around the World
By Peder Von Harten
While the rest of us are faced with the knowledge that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, elite athletes have one more absolute given to contend with--- their last game will eventually come.
Truth be told, athletes of all levels face the same harsh reality, but elite athletes, those who we admire on Sunday afternoons on the TV or those whose posters were taped to your bedroom wall as a kid, see it much differently. In many ways for them, sports and being an athlete is what they’ve done for 30 years, what got them through college, what paid for their first car, and what paid for their home. No matter how good the workouts are or what kind of shape you’re in, the career ends eventually. For most ballplayers specifically, that career ends somewhere in their early to mid-30’s and with only baseball experience in their back pocket, the reality of career finality sets it and not much later, so does the worry about what lies ahead for the next 50 years of their lives. Baseball is what they know and what they love, but how do you make that transition from player to something else?
Daniel Moskos made that jump. Moskos, a former #4 overall draft
pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, rode the highs and lows like every other professional ballplayer there was, is, and will ever be. The life of a professional athlete is a rollercoaster and it’s the lucky few that can balance those emotions and still perform night after night. It might look easy to an outsider who only sees the fancy cars, the stadium lights, and the celebrity status that ballplayers have, but there is a delicate balance between being a Big League star, the guy who’s always on the bus between the Minors and the Majors, and the guy who you’ve never heard of a day in your life. All very talented and gifted, but all faced with that same looming expiration date on their on-field life.
Looking back on his playing career, Moskos has his sights set firmly on the next generation of baseball and making his mark on the game from the other side of the foul line. His post-playing career is defined by his passion for the tangible elements of pitching, like mechanics, location, and data, but also in his willingness to share with up-andcoming pitchers the trials, tribulations, and mental aspects of his own career in hopes they can learn from him on their own road to success.
Photos courtesy of Daniel Moskos
Peggy Watkins
It’s a February Thursday night in Charleston, SC and behind the ballroom doors hang thousands of pieces of art, carefully created by some of the best outdoor painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the country. Gathered here for the annual Southeast Wildlife Exposition, these artists have on display their work for the kickoff event and VIP preview of their works. As the line outside, filled with tuxedos and evening gowns, awaits their entry, the artists patiently stand by their works waiting for the doors to burst open and the entire room come to life.
For one such artist, that “come to life” already exists within the works on the wall beside her. The work of Peggy Watkins brings forth a level of realism that in a few short minutes after the doors swing wide, will gather a crowd of people who will spend a good portion of their night admiring each brush stroke on the canvas. This crowd is without a doubt filled with hunters, conservationists, and other outdoor enthusiasts and their admiration of her work stems not just from the subject of the painting, but how perfectly presented those subjects are. In other words, how the painting comes to life.
Watkins is a world-traveler, but the detail she brings forth in many her upland works screams of her now Charleston home. It is clear from the onset that the details shown in each piece are not just how someone might think a piece should look, but rather that she has seen first-hand, in the field, the look of a dog on the hunt. She has seen how the hair on the back of a retriever stands up as a set of mallards cups their winds and descends into the spread of decoys below. To the serious outdoor art collector, the piece needs to be accurate throughout and perfectly portray an animal’s mannerisms and expressions. Posture, eye contact, setting--- all wildly important details that Watkins never forgets and seemingly never misses on. Those details are the calling cards of a Watkins piece and are why a smile is drawn from each person that stops by, looks at her works, and engages with the proud, yet humble artist standing nearby.
Outside of SEWE, Peggy’s work can be seen inside the homes of fine art collectors and across a variety of the industry’s best of the best. From retailers like Holland & Holland and the Sportsman’s Gallery, to fine publications like Sporting Classics, Grays Sporting Journal, and Shooting Sportsman, her work is prominently featured for its beauty and authenticity. With a full slate of events around the corner, Watkins took some to talk with Porch + Prairie about her art, her lifestyle, and all that goes into such wonderful pieces.
Fins, Feathers, and the Finest of Art
Photos courtesty of Peggy Watkins
Where the Sporting Life Lives
As America’s premier sporting community, Brays Island embodies a shared passion for the outdoors. Deepen your connection to friends, family and your own adventuresome spirit exploring 5,500 pristine acres of waterways, fields and woodlands.
Tucker Smith, Dudes, Oil, 30 x 48 in.
Spring in MagnoliatheState
by Robin Young
As the chilling days of February turn into brighter days of March, Mississippi welcomes the onset of Spring, hinted to by magnoliascented breeze and vibrant flowers. The season of spring in the deep south is friendly, warm, sometimes rainy, but also welcomes warmer sunny days. For the past twenty years of my residence in Mississippi, I look forward to the rebirth that is characterized by spring the most.
An Ole Miss student for six years now, from undergraduate studies to now professional school, one part of campus that makes this school so uniquely special is the methodical seasonal coloring around campus as spring unfolds. Energy is high, and the excitement of the spring semester is underway.
One can’t help but notice the vibrant tulips and daffodils that illuminate the walkways you use to get to class. The air feels fresh and light, and all around you hear chatter and laughter. All of these details make those long treks to the classroom feel a little bit shorter. Later into the spring season, you’re captivated by what must be the brightest, most perfect roses and hydrangeas you can find, lining the sidewalks and filling the spaces between the historic campus buildings. Memories held in the sights, sounds, and smells of walking to class in the Spring remain some of my favorites, and their return each year takes me right back to special moments from each distinct springtime season I have spent on this campus. From watching home runs and cheering at Swayze Field, to the approaching Double Decker festival, spring in Oxford is unmatched in beauty, entertainment, and memories.
Double Decker has remained one of my favorite springtime events in Oxford. This annual event, taking place in April, puts Oxford on the map, showcasing its food, music, culture, and arts. Located on the beautiful, historic Oxford Square, Double Decker weekend is one that I suggest all Mississippians and travel-lovers must visit at least once. But, odds are, one visit is all it will take to keep coming back.
This little town quickly turns into a hub of activity. Stages take over the square where continuous performances highlight local artists but also feature nationally recognized musicians. Art lovers as well as home-decor fanatics and lovers of shopping can explore vendor booths and local retailers scattered across the square. Oxford, already characterized by its amazing range of cuisine options, also welcomes incoming food trucks on the square, meaning there are limitless food options available, sure to delight all. From crafts, games, food, entertainment, and shopping, I consider this the most family friendly and welcoming weekend to visit Oxford. While this sweet college town is nothing short of magical throughout the entirety of the year, it is just something about spring that makes Oxford come to life.
While I think of my love for this season in this charming little town that has become so dear to me, both unique and shared traditions of spring in towns across the Magnolia state are unfolding for those near and far. As spring approaches, the Mississippi River glitters, its ripples seeming to dance. To me, this mirrors the excitement of this
Fore the Love of Golf :
Top 6 Golf Destinations in the Midwest
by Kelsi McKee
Photo by Dean Ricciardi
The 1800s...THE UPS & DOWNS IN UTAH’S SAGE GROUSE STORY
By Edgar Castillo
The 1800s in Utah was a great place to be if you were a bird hunter. However, in those days, it was far less about sport and more about surviving and providing sustenance for your family. The state at the time had an array of grouse for the takin’. Ruffs, Sharptails, Dusky’s, and according to historical journals and sagebrush distribution maps…lots of sage hens or sage chickens. We know them as the Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Now add that recent research shows a second, smaller subspecies of sage grouse, the Gunnsion (Centrocercus minimus) was also embedded across the delicate ecosystem and shared the landscape with its larger kin.
TIMELINE - Sage grouse have a long history in Utah. The presence of the spiny-tailed grouse has been recorded during archeological
excavations in Indian caves and shelters that dated back 10,000 to 11,000 years! There’s no doubt the birds have a rich history and strong connection to the people and land. Enough that towns, creeks, mountains, and other landmarks took their names from the sage grouse. I’m betting that the sheer quantity observed by settlers had a lot to do with the reason a certain location took the birds name or reference.
The 1800s appear to have been significant not only in sage grouse numbers, but also the beginning of their decline by the end of the 19th century. By the 1870s increased reports of birds killed by hunters had made its way across the country. This word spread to market hunters, which flooded to states that boasted high numbers of birds to commercially harvest sage grouse. Sage grouse were being
Photo by Andrew Perilloux
back porch
by Peder von Harten
Preach.
It’s never my intention, truly. I don’t walk into a room hoping that a few minutes later, I am holding court with a group of folks listening to my musings about whatever comes to mind. Those who know me well know that as time has passed, I am less and less a people person than I ever was before. In my younger years, the thought of a downtown bar or crowded room might have been interesting, but nowadays, I’d rather be anywhere else really. And so comes the irony of me being around people long enough to offer my thoughts on the world. Even scarier is that there are some that actually want to hear them.
While I’ve been accused of speaking like I’m giving a Ted Talk, the reality is that I just enjoy the ability to share knowledge or just have general dialogue with people. In an age where life is lived in 140 characters, actually having real conversations about the goings on of the world is enjoyable. It seems that these days, most people almost shy away from meaningful discussion in fear of alienating their audience or worse, standing up for something. Even as I write this, I can hear part of the audience thinking I’m about to start to preach. I’m not, don’t worry, but I do feel passionately about how we have changed our way of communication in our country. The spoken word has given way to only those typed in an email or shared via text message. If you asked yourself and answered honestly, when was the last time you walked into a coffee shop and saw a group sitting around and discussing current events, or last night’s ballgame, or (gasp!) the current political landscape.
What I haven’t quite grasped is why people are so afraid to speak their mind. Much of this seemingly stems from modern America’s status of wanting to be liked by everyone. As each generation comes in and out, fewer seemed focused on standing on their personal belief system and instead more focused on appealing to the masses. Principled thinking is a thing of the past, almost as if society is saying “how dare you not change your mindset to go with this year’s line of thinking?” Oh, to be so brave as to stand on one’s convictions in the face of such an onslaught. To be fair, I’m not saying that this applies to one particular side of the aisle, and I applaud those from either side who draw a hard line in the sand and say, “this is what I believe— belittle me, mock me, or throw stones at me, but this is what I believe.” The best and hardest thing to do is to be the one in the room who is unconcerned with others’ beliefs about you.
We all want to be liked at some level. Some want to be liked by all and some want to be liked by just a small handful of people, but we do all strive for it at some level. But there is harm in trying to please everyone and be liked by everyone. The harm? The harm is in backing down, in giving in, in losing your passion, and then having to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you’ve given up on all that makes you, you. Sure, there may be consequences for speaking out, there may be consequences for pointing out the wrongs you see before you, but when you look at that man in the mirror, you’ll be able to stick your chest out, and know that your authenticity and backbone could never be questioned.
Every year, DSC hosts its annual Convention and Sporting Expo, raising millions of dollars for mission-focused grants in Conservation, Education and Advocacy. The four-day Convention is open to the public and fills more than 750,000-square-feet of the Georgia World Congress Center with nearly 1,000 exhibitors featuring worldwide hunting and fishing adventures, firearms, art, jewelry, outdoor gear and much more. Join us January 9-12, 2025! Mark your calendars! DSC 2025 Convention – January 9-12